The Protective Effects of the Echium amoenum Seed Oil Against Seizures Induced by Pentylenetetrazole

Many recent studies have documented that polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) as a safe supplement raise seizure thresholds. However, the evidence of seed oil supplementsonseizure susceptibility remains controversial, andamongthem, Echium seed oil (EO) is a mixture of !-3 and !-6 PUFAs.

This study aimed to test the effects of the sub-chronic administration of EO on intravenous pentylenetetrazole (PTZ) seizure threshold, considering its antioxidant activity and biochemical parameters.

Fifty male mice were divided into five groups (10 in each), including control (no treatment), vehicle (sesame oil), and EO (1, 3, and 5 g/kg) groups. Vehicle and EO were administered p.o. once a day for four weeks. Then, the intravenous PTZ induced-seizure threshold was determined. Finally, the serum concentration of lipid, creatinine, alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate transaminase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), and the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) was assessed.

Pretreatment withEOraised the seizure threshold dose-dependentlycomparedto the vehicle. Pretreatment withEOhadno adverse effect on the serum concentration of ALP, AST, ALT, creatinine, high-density lipoprotein (HDL), and low-density lipoprotein (LDL), but at the dosages of 3 and 5 g/kg decreased the concentration of cholesterol, very low-density lipoprotein (VLDL) (P < 0.05), and triglyceride (TG) (P < 0.01). Also, 1 and 3 g/kg of EO improved the activity of SOD (P < 0.01).

Pretreatment with EO increases the seizure threshold without negative impacts on the liver and kidney biomarkers, correlated with its positive effects on antioxidant activity and serum lipid profiles.