The effect of aerial parts hydro-alcoholic extract of Lavandula dentata in the kainic acid rat model of temporal lobe epilepsy

Temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) is a widespread antiepileptic drug-refractory focal epilepsy. There is no report about antiepileptic effects of Lavandula dentata on kainic acid induced status epilepticus (SE) while it is used as Ustukhuddoos. This study evaluated the behavioral and biochemical effects of Lavandula dentata extract in intrahippocampal kainate-induced model of TLE.

75 male wistar rats weighing 200-250 gr was divided into 5 groups including: 1. Sham 2. Extract pretreated sham 3. Kainic acid (1µg/rat) 4. Extract single dose (200 mg/kg one hour before surgery) pretreated kainic acid 5. Extract repeated (200 mg/kg every other day for 2 weeks) pretreated kainic acid. Extract injections were i.p at a volume of 0.3 ml.

Chronic extract pretreatment reduced SE latency, enhanced total duration and occurrence of SE (p < 0.05) but also reduced mortality rate. The kainate group significantly elevated malondialdehyde (MDA) (p < 0.05), while single and repeated extract pretreatment decreased it (p < 0.05). Hippocampal glutathione (GSH) did not change in all groups 24 hours after kainate injection.

In spite of SE parameters intensification by chronic extract pretreatment, it seems that extract could reduce mortality rate through MDA reduction.