Effect of Artemisia persica Essential Oil on Memory Deficits, Depression, and Anxiety in Pentylenetetrazole (PTZ) Kindled Male Mice

Epilepsy is the most common neurological disorder after a stroke, which causes recurrent seizures. The aim of the present study was to evaluate Memory deficits and mood disorders, such as depression and anxiety are commonly seen in patients with epilepsy. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of Iranian Artemisia persica essential oil on memory deficits, depression, and anxiety in pentylenetetrazole (PTZ) kindled male mice.

In this experimental study, 70 male mice, were randomly divided into 7 groups: normal saline group, epilepsy model that received PTZ (35mg/kg) every other day with 48h intervals for 9 day and then the essential (at a dose of 60mg/kg) on the 10th day. treatment groups that received PTZ with 48h intervals and essential oil (at doses of 50, 75, and 100mg/kg) daily, positive control group that received PTZ with 48h intervals and essential oil (dose, 100mg/kg) daily and diazepam on the 10th day, 30 minutes before the injection of PTZ. Flumazenil group received PTZ with 48h intervals and essential oil (dose, 100mg/kg) daily and flumazenil on the 10th day, 30 minutes before the injection of PTZ. One way ANOVA and Tukey tests were used for data analyze.

Artemisia persica essential oil (dose, 50mg/kg) caused a significant increased delay in the onset of seizures in the mice that received PTZ (p<0.05); also, the essential oil at a dose of 50mg/kg significantly decreased secondary latency time in the shuttle box test (p<0.05). Different doses of Artemisia persica essential oil showed no significant effect on the immobility time in the tail suspension test, and the frequency of entry into the closed arms of the elevated plus maze in the group that received 50mg/kg of Artemisia persica essential oil, was significantly lower than that in the PTZ-treated group (p<0.05).

Iranian Artemisia persica essential oil (at a dose of 50mg/kg) effectively reduced seizure threshold, significantly increased the avoidance memory, and decreased anxiety in mice receiving PTZ.