NEUROPROTECTIVE EFFICACY OF CURCUMIN AND BERBERINE WITH LAMOTRIGINE PRETREATMENT AGAINST CHEMICALLY INDUCED INTRACTABLE EPILEPSY IN ALBINO MICE

Abstract

Epilepsy is a chronic neurological disorder defined by recurrent unprovoked seizures, which is attributed to abnormal neuronal discharges in the brain. A large number of epileptic patients are reported to suffer from the drug resistant or refractory epilepsy, which are often associated with cognitive dysfunction, oxidative stress and damage of neuron. A large number of antiepileptic drugs have been developed, however there are still a number of drug resistant epilepsy patients. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to investigate the neuroprotective and anticonvulsant effects of curcumin and berberine on PTZ (40 mg/kg) + LTG induced drug-resistant epilepsy or intractable epilepsy in albino mice. Healthy adult male albino mice (25-30g) were housed under standard laboratory conditions. Mice were randomly assigned to nine experimental groups. PTZ (40 mg/kg) induced epilepsy was treated using the drug-resistant epilepsy model created by treating mice with lamotrigine and berberine and curcumin were given in low and high doses individually and in combination. Seizure severity, onset time and duration, oxidative stress markers and brain histopathology were investigated. It is hypothesized that, the treatment with both curcumin and berberine will have significant effects in lowering the seizures frequency and severity by antioxidant and neuroprotective actions. Furthermore, the combined administration of both agents in high doses will provide significant neuroprotection than low doses. Histopathological examination will be expected to show less damage to neuron and brain architecture. It is concluded that, phytochemicals like curcumin and berberine could play a significant role as a potential therapeutic agent along with conventional drugs for the treatment of intractable epilepsy due to their multifarious beneficial effects like antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective properties.