Anticonvulsant activity of the essential oil and methanolic extract of Bunium persicum (Boiss). B. Fedtsch.

BACKGROUND

Bunium persicum is an endemic plant to Iran which its seeds have a long history of medicinal uses.

OBJECTIVE

This work aimed to study the anticonvulsant effect of the essential oil and methanolic extract of the plant.

METHODS

The essential oil and methanolic extract of the plant were studied against pentylenetetrazole (PTZ) and maximal electroshock (MES) induced convulsions in mice in different doses. The neurotoxicity of the essential oil and methanolic extract was investigated using rotarod method.

RESULTS

The essential oil and methanolic extract prolonged the onset of clonic and tonic seizures in PTZ. The tonic seizures were prevented by essential oil in both methods at dose of 1mL/kg and higher doses. The methanolic extract inhibited PTZ-convulsions at dose 3g/kg and was ineffective against MES induced convulsion.

CONCLUSIONS

The essential oil of the plant might be useful to control absence and grand mal seizures at dose 1mL/kg. This activity might be due to its content of monoterpenes.