The purpose of the study was to investigate whether dietary intake of
curcumin can inhibit the onset and progression of
seizures and their associated pathophysiology in experimental FeCl(3)-induced epileptogenesis.
Curcumin was considered for this study because it can cross the blood-brain barrier and bind redox-active
metal ions. It is also well known for its antioxidative, anticancer, and anti-inflammatory properties. In the present study,
seizures were induced by intracortical injection of
FeCl(3) into young rats. Synchronized video/EEG recordings were obtained to diagnose the progression of
seizures. Short-term treatment with a
curcumin-supplemented diet (1500 pp mw/w) significantly inhibited the onset of grade III and IV
seizures in rats with
iron-induced
epilepsy. The lower dose of
curcumin (500 ppm) was not effective in inhibiting grade III
seizures, but retarded the onset and progression of
generalized seizures. The seizure-suppressing potential of
curcumin is explained by the observed biochemical, behavioral, and ultrastructural results. Our results indicate that
curcumin significantly prevents generalization of electroclinical seizure activity as well as the pathogenesis associated with
iron-induced epileptogenesis.