title: Anticonvulsant activity of Hypericum scabrum L.; possible mechanism involved.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Hypericum (H.) spp. has been used in traditional medicine for their anticonvulsant effect for many years. In spite of many works on this genus, little is known about H. scabrum. In this work, anticonvulsant activity of H. scabrum was investigated.
  
  
  METHODS
  Anticonvulsant activity of aqueous extract was evaluated by pentylenetetrazole (PTZ) induced convulsion and picrotoxin induced convulsion. Also, nitric oxide radical scavenging was investigated as a possible mechanism involved.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Extract (125-500 mg kg-1, i.p.) significantly delayed the onset of PTZ induced convulsion. At 500 mg kg-1, 100% protection against mortality was observed. At this dose, it significantly prolonged the onset of picrotoxin induced convulsion in mice, too. It showed significant nitric oxide radical scavenging activity.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Mechanism of anticonvulsant activity may be through GABA and/or nitric oxide pathway.
authors.affiliation: Pharmaceutical Sciences Research Center, School of Pharmacy, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran. dr.n.ahangar@gmail.com.
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Ebrahimzadeh
authors.forename: S M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Nabavi
authors.forename: S F
authors.initials: SF
authors.lastname: Nabavi
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ahangar
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D016166:Free Radical Scavengers / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology; D020902:Hypericum / Q000737:chemistry*; D008297:Male; D008519:Medicine, Traditional; D051379:Mice; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000378:metabolism; D010433:Pentylenetetrazole / Q000633:toxicity; D010852:Picrotoxin / Q000633:toxicity; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012640:Seizures / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D013997:Time Factors; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000927:Anticonvulsants; D016166:Free Radical Scavengers; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D010433:Pentylenetetrazole; D010852:Picrotoxin; D010936:Plant Extracts; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid