Antiepileptic activity of hydroalcoholic extract of basil in mice

Introduction: Epilepsy has been always considered as one of the most prevalent disorders of nervous system and despite various drugs available, there are still some patients who have drug resistance. In traditional medicine, basil (Ocimum basilicum) has been used in treating epilepsy. To achieve an effective antiepileptic drug with few side effects, the antiepileptic effect of O. basilicum was investigated in pentylenetetrazole (PTZ)-induced epilepsy model. Methods: In this experimental research, ۴۸ laboratory female mice (for removing gender factor) were designated in ۶ equal groups. The experimental groups comprised control, sham, and four treatment groups receiving the extract at ۱۰۰, ۲۵۰, ۳۰۰, and ۳۵۰ mg/kg doses (intraperitoneally; ip), ۶۵ minutes before PTZ injection and the factors of epilepsy symptoms and the symptoms frequency were studied. Results: The obtained results of using different doses (۱۰۰, ۲۵۰, ۳۰۰, ۳۵۰ mg/kg) of the extract indicated that the mice in ۱۰۰ mg/kg dose group exhibited the highest frequency of epileptic attacks. The samples receiving the extract at ۱۰۰ and ۲۵۰ mg/kg doses exhibited the highest and lowest frequency of myoclonic twitches, respectively. In the group treated with ۲۵۰ mg/kg dose, the symptoms of epilepsy, frequency of epilepsy, and mortality rate respectively increased, decreased, and decreased (p<۰.۰۵). Conclusion: By the obtained results, the hydroalcoholic extract of O. basilicum at ۲۵۰ mg/kg dose could be recommended as an effective drug for preventing epilepsy in the animal model.