Herbs and Spices: Unexpected Sources of Antiepileptogenic Drug Treatments?

Resveratrol (Res) is a phytoalexin produced naturally by several plants, which has multifunctional effects such as neuroprotection, anti‐inflammatory, and anti‐cancer. The present study was to evaluate a possible anti‐epileptic effect of Res against kainate‐induced temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) in rat. We performed behavior monitoring, intracranial electroencepholography (IEEG) recording, histological analysis, and Western blotting to evaluate the anti‐epilepsy effect of Res in kainate‐induced epileptic rats. Res decreased the frequency of spontaneous seizures and inhibited the epileptiform discharges. Moreover, Res could protect neurons against kainate‐induced neuronal cell death in CA1 and CA3a regions and depressed mossy fiber sprouting, which are general histological characteristics both in TLE patients and animal models. Western blot revealed that the expression level of kainate receptors (KARs) in hippocampus was reduced in Res‐administrated rats compared to that in epileptic ones. These results suggest that Res is a potent anti‐epilepsy agent, which protects against epileptogenesis and progression of the kainate‐induced TLE animal. The purpose of the study was to investigate whether dietary intake of curcumin can inhibit the onset and progression of seizures and their associated pathophysiology in experimental FeCl 3 ‐induced epileptogenesis. Curcumin was considered for this study because it can cross the blood–brain barrier and bind redox‐active metal ions. It is also well known for its antioxidative, anticancer, and anti‐inflammatory properties. In the present study, seizures were induced by intracortical injection of FeCl 3 into young rats. Synchronized video/EEG recordings were obtained to diagnose the progression of seizures. Short‐term treatment with a curcumin‐supplemented diet (1500 ppm w/w) significantly inhibited the onset of grade III and IV seizures in rats with iron‐induced epilepsy. The lower dose of curcumin (500 ppm) was not effective in inhibiting grade III seizures, but retarded the onset and progression of generalized seizures. The seizure‐suppressing potential of curcumin is explained by the observed biochemical, behavioral, and ultrastructural results. Our results indicate that curcumin significantly prevents generalization of electroclinical seizure activity as well as the pathogenesis associated with iron‐induced epileptogenesis.