title: Acute administration of ginger (Zingiber officinale rhizomes) extract on timed intravenous pentylenetetrazol infusion seizure model in mice.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Zingiber officinale (Zingiberaceae) or ginger, which is used in traditional medicine has antioxidant activity and neuroprotective effects. The effects of this plant on clonic seizure have not yet been studied. The present study evaluated the anticonvulsant effect of ginger in a model of clonic seizures induced with pentylenetetrazole (PTZ) in male mice.
  
  
  METHODS
  The anticonvulsant effect of Z. officinale was investigated using i.v. PTZ-induced seizure models in mice. Different doses of the hydroethanolic extract of Z. officinale (25, 50, and 100mg/kg) were administered intraperitonal (i.p.), 2 and 24h before induction of PTZ. Phenobarbital sodium (30mg/kg), a reference standard, was also tested for comparison. The effect of ginger on to the appearance of three separate seizure endpoints (myoclonic, generalized clonus and forelimb tonic extension phase) was recorded.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The results showed that the ginger extract has anticonvulsant effects in all the experimental treatment groups of seizure tested as it significantly increased the seizure threshold. Hydroethanolic extract of Z. officinale significantly increased the onset time of myoclonic seizure at doses of 25-100mg/kg (p<0.001) and significantly prevented generalized clonic (p<0.001) and increased the threshold for the forelimb tonic extension (p<0.01) seizure 2 and 24h before induction of PTZ compared with control group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Based on the results the hydroethanolic extract of ginger has anticonvulsant effects, possibly through an interaction with inhibitory and excitatory system, antioxidant mechanisms, oxidative stress and calcium channel inhibition.
authors: Department of Biology, Faculty of Basic Science, Bu-Ali Sina University, Hamedan, Iran.
authors: Abdolkarim
authors: A
authors: Hosseini
authors: Department of Biology, Faculty of Basic Science, Bu-Ali Sina University, Hamedan, Iran. Electronic address: mirazi205@gmail.com.
authors: Naser
authors: N
authors: Mirazi
mesh_terms: D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D003292:Convulsants / Q000633:toxicity*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D020939:Zingiber officinale / Q000737:chemistry*; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D010433:Pentylenetetrazole / Q000633:toxicity*; D008517:Phytotherapy / Q000379:methods*; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012640:Seizures / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy*; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D003292:Convulsants; D010936:Plant Extracts; D010433:Pentylenetetrazole
keywords: Ginger; Mice; Pentylenetetrazole; Phenobarbital; Seizure