The effect of safranal on epileptiform activity induced by penicillin: Role of somatosensory cortex GABAA-benzodiazepine receptor complex

Safranal is one of the bioactive compounds of saffron and has analgesic, anti-inflammatory, anti-diabetic and anti-cancer properties. In a variety of pathological states of the nervous system, safranal has shown a powerful neuroprotective effect. In this study, the effect of safranal on penicillin-induced epileptic activity was investigated. GABA-benzodiazepine receptor complex antagonist (flumazenil) was used to follow the possible mechanism of action.

Epileptiform activity was induced by intra-somatosensory cortex microinjection of penicillin (300 IU, 1.5 μL) in urethane-anesthetized rats. Electrocorticographic recordings were used to record the latency time to first spike appearance and to analyze the frequency and amplitude of spike waves. Safranal was intraperitoneally injected and flumazenil and diazepam (as a positive control group) were intracerebroventricularly administered.

The first spike wave was appeared 3.74±0.27 min after penicillin microinjection. Penicillin also produced 31.91±0.99 spike wave per min with an amplitude of 1.22±0.03 mV. Intraperitoneal injection of safranal (1 and 4 mg/kg) and intracerebroventricular administration of diazepam (5 µg per animal) reduced both the number and amplitude of spike waves. Intracerebroventricular injection of flumazenil (5 µg per animal) prevented diazepam (5 µg per animal)-, and safranal (4 mg/kg)-induced anti-epileptiform activity.

The results indicated an anti-epileptiform activity for safranal. It was also found that the central GABAA-benzodiazepine receptor complex might be involved in the antiepileptic activity of safranal.