The Effect of Ferula assa-foetida Hydroalcoholic Extract on Pentylenetetrazole-Induced Seizures in Male Rats

Background: Epilepsy is a common neurological disorder with treatment resistance remaining a challenge. Ferula assa-foetida (asafoetida) is traditionally used in Persian medicine for neurological conditions, but its effects on seizure parameters are rarely investigated. This study evaluated the effect of F. assa-foetida hydroalcoholic extract on pentylenetetrazole (PTZ)-induced seizures in male rats.Methods: ۳۵ adult male Wistar rats were divided into five groups (n=۷): control (saline + PTZ), three groups receiving ۵۰, ۱۰۰, and ۲۰۰ mg/kg extract (i.p., ۳۰ min before PTZ), and diazepam (۱ mg/kg) as positive control. Seizures were induced by PTZ (۸۵ mg/kg, i.p.). Parameters included latency to onset, duration of tonic, clonic, and tonic-clonic phases, total seizure duration, Racine scores, and ۲۴-hour mortality. Data were analyzed by one-way ANOVA with LSD post-hoc test.Results: Doses of ۱۰۰ and ۲۰۰ mg/kg extract significantly increased seizure latency versus control (p < ۰.۰۰۱). However, contrary to classical anticonvulsant profiles, these doses also significantly increased tonic, clonic, tonic-clonic, and total seizure durations (p < ۰.۰۵). The ۲۰۰ mg/kg dose showed comparable latency to diazepam (p > ۰.۰۵) but differed significantly on seizure durations (p < ۰.۰۵). Racine scores were not significantly reduced by the extract. The ۲۴-hour survival rate increased dose-dependently (p < ۰.۰۱).Conclusion: Ferula assa-foetida extract exhibits a mixed profile in the PTZ model: it delays seizure onset and improves survival but prolongs motor seizure durations. These findings do not support a classical anticonvulsant effect, suggesting a complex pharmacology requiring further investigation.Keywords: Ferula assa-foetida, Pentylenetetrazole, Seizure, Anticonvulsant, Diazepam.

کلیدواژه ها:

Ferula assa-foetida ، Pentylenetetrazole ، Seizure ، anticonvulsant ، Diazepam