Anticonvulsant Activity and Toxicity of Essential Oil and Methanolic Extract of Zhumeria majdae Rech, a Unique Iranian Plant in Mice

Drug-resistance and adverse effects of current drugs are the most obstacles in the treatment of epilepsy. In a plan for finding new natural anticonvulsant agents, we studied the anticonvulsant effects of essential oil (ZMEO) and methanolic extract (ZMME) of Zhumeria majdae in pentylene tetrazol (PTZ) and maximal electro-shock (MES) models in mice. Mice received different doses of ZMEO and ZMME, 30?min before induction of chemical and electrical convulsions. Neurotoxicity (movement toxicity and sedation) was evaluated using rota-rod test. The mortality was determined after 24?h following injection of different doses of the ZMEO and ZMME. The obtained results show that ZMEO dose-dependently protected mice from tonic convulsions induced by PTZ and MES with effective doses (ED₅₀) of 0.26 (0.13?C0.39) and 0.27 (0.17?C0.37)?ml/kg respectively. Toxic doses (TD₅₀) in rota-rod test for ZMEO was 0.55 (0.42?C0.70)?ml/kg. ZMME at dose of 2?g/kg decreased tonic convulsions as much as 40?%. For ZMEO, TD₅₀ of 0.55 (0.45?C0.69)?ml/kg was obtained. ZMME significantly decreased the walking time in rota-rod test at dose of 2?g/kg. Lethal dose (LD₅₀) of ZMEO was determined as 2.35 (1.98?C2.65)?ml/kg. ZMME showed about 34?% death of the animals at dose 5?g/kg. The essential oil of Z. majdae could be a good candidate for further anticonvulsive studies.