title: Anticonvulsant activity of the ethanolic extract of Punica granatum L. seed.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Various morphological parts of pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) have extensively been used in the folk medicine to treat an array of human ailments. The aim of the present study is to demonstrate the anticonvulsant potential of the ethanolic extract of P. granatum L. seed in chemoconvulsant-induced seizures in mice.
  
  
  METHODS
  The anticonvulsant activity of the ethanolic extract was investigated in strychnine (STR)-induced and pentylenetetrazole (PTZ)-induced seizure models in mice. Diazepam was used as reference anticonvulsant drug. Ethanolic extract (150, 300, and 600 mg/kg per os, p.o.), diazepam (1 mg/kg intraperitoneally, i.p.), and distilled water (10 ml/kg, i.p.) were administered before induction of seizures by PTZ (60 mg/kg, i.p.) or STR (2.5 mg/kg, i.p.). The latent time before the onset of convulsions, the duration of convulsions, the percentage of seizure protection, and mortality rate were recorded.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The seed ethanolic extract did not show any toxicity and did not protect the animals against seizures but demonstrated a significant increase in seizure latency at 300 and 600 mg/kg in both STR and PTZ seizure models (P < 0.001). It also showed a significant reduction in seizure duration at 300 mg/kg (P < 0.05) and 600 mg/kg (P < 0.001) in the STR seizure model and 600 mg/kg (P < 0.01) in the PTZ seizure model compared with the control group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Ethanol extract has dose-dependent anticonvulsant activity against STR- and PTZ-induced seizures. This activity might be due to its saponins, flavonoids, triterpenes, and alkaloids ingredients.
authors.forename: Saeed
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mehrzadi
authors.forename: Samir
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sadr
authors.forename: Azam
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hosseinzadeh
authors.forename: Babak
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Gholamine
authors.forename: Ali
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Shahbazi
authors.forename: Hasan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: FallahHuseini
authors.forename: Habib
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ghaznavi
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000633:toxicity; D003975:Diazepam / Q000494:pharmacology; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D029561:Lythraceae / Q000633:toxicity; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D010433:Pentylenetetrazole; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000633:toxicity; D011897:Random Allocation; D012639:Seeds / Q000633:toxicity; D012640:Seizures / Q000188:drug therapy*; D013331:Strychnine; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000927:Anticonvulsants; D010936:Plant Extracts; D013331:Strychnine; D003975:Diazepam; D010433:Pentylenetetrazole
keywords: Anticonvulsant,; Mice; Pentylenetetrazole,; Punica granatum seed,; Strychnine,