Activities of α-asarone in various animal seizure models and in biochemical assays might be essentially accounted for by antioxidant properties.

Abstract

Anticonvulsant properties of α-asarone were studied in mice at three doses with different toxicity. The 100mg/kg dose decreased both treadmill performance and locomotor activity, caused hypothermia, and potentiated pentobarbital-induced sleep. The last two effects and no toxicity were observed at 60 and 22mg/kg, respectively. In chemical (pentylenetetrazole, picrotoxin, N-methyl-D-aspartate, pilocarpine) and electrical (maximal electroshock) seizure tests, neither seizures nor death were prevented by 60 mg/kg α-asarone which, however, exhibited protective-like effects (delay in the onset of clonic and/or tonic seizures and/or in the death of mice). Magnesium deficiency-dependent audiogenic seizures responded to non-toxic doses of α-asarone (60 mg/kg and less): 22 mg/kg protecting 50% of tested animals. Because these seizures respond to both anti-seizure and antioxidant compounds, antioxidant properties of α-asarone were studied, indicating 5 Units of superoxide dismutase-like activity per mg α-asarone. Treatment of mice by α-asarone (daily dose of 100mg/kg during 7 days) induced brain antioxidant enzymes (superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase and reductase) in striatum and hippocampus and to a lesser extent in cortex. In view of recent findings about deleterious roles of chronic inflammatory/oxidant stresses in human epilepsy outcome, antioxidant and inductive properties of α-asarone are proposed to be coherent bases for traditional clinical efficacy.

• Authors: Nicole Pages, Pierre Maurois, Bernadette Delplanque, Pierre Bac, James P Stables, Joaquín Tamariz, Germán Chamorro, Joseph Vamecq
• Journal: Neuroscience research (Neurosci Res) Vol. 68 Issue 4 Pg. 337-44 (Dec 2010) ISSN: 1872-8111 [Electronic] Ireland
• PMID: 20833211 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
• Copyright: Copyright © 2010 Elsevier Ireland Ltd and the Japan Neuroscience Society. All rights reserved.

Chemical References

• Allylbenzene Derivatives
• Anisoles
• Anticonvulsants
• Antioxidants
• asarone
• Glutathione Peroxidase
• Superoxide Dismutase
• Glutathione Reductase

Topics

• Allylbenzene Derivatives
• Animals
• Anisoles (pharmacology)
• Anticonvulsants (pharmacology)
• Antioxidants (pharmacology)
• Brain (drug effects, metabolism)
• Disease Models, Animal
• Female
• Glutathione Peroxidase (biosynthesis)
• Glutathione Reductase (biosynthesis)
• Mice
• Motor Activity (drug effects)
• Seizures (drug therapy, metabolism)
• Superoxide Dismutase (biosynthesis)