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. 2024 Apr-Jun;15(2):63-69.
doi: 10.4103/JAPTR.JAPTR_496_23. Epub 2024 May 6.

Effect of quercetin against pilocarpine-induced epilepsy in mice

Waleed K Abdulsahib  1 , Mohanad Y Al-Radeef  2
Affiliations

Effect of quercetin against pilocarpine-induced epilepsy in mice

Waleed K Abdulsahib et al. J Adv Pharm Technol Res. 2024 Apr-Jun.

Abstract

Globally, an estimated 50 million people are affected by epilepsy, a persistent, noncommunicable neurological ailment. Quercetin (QR) is a prevalent flavonoid substance extensively dispersed throughout agricultural life. In a pilocarpine (PILO)-induced epilepsy model in mice, this investigation aimed to determine whether QR has an antiepileptic effect and explore its putative mechanism of action. Fifty mice were allocated into seven groups, with six in every group. The first group received physiological saline, the second group was given diazepam (1 mg/kg), and four groups were administered QR at 50, 100, 150, and 200 mg/kg, respectively. The seventh group (the induction group) received normal saline. After 30 min, all groups were injected intraperitoneally with PILO. The impact of QR on motor coordination was assessed using the rotarod test, while measures such as latency to first seizure, generalized tonic-clonic seizures (GTCS), number of convulsions, and mortality were recorded. Serum samples were collected through the retro-orbital route to measure prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) and interleukin 1 beta (IL-1β) levels. QR showed no significant difference in motor impairment, but increased duration until the initial seizure occurred and declined the mortality rate, duration of GTCS, and incidence of convulsions. All doses of QR significantly reduced PGE2 levels (P ≤ 0.05). However, QR's effect on IL-1β reduction was statistically insignificant (P > 0.05). QR's capacity to inhibit PILO-induced epilepsy by decreasing IL-1 and PGE2 levels is supported by this study. The results of this work indicate that QR could have a function to treat acute epilepsy.

Keywords: Epilepsy; interleukin 1 beta; pilocarpine; prostaglandin E2; quercetin.

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Conflict of interest statement

There are no conflicts of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Effect of quercetin (Q) on motor coordination using a rotarod test (n = 6)
Figure 2
Figure 2
The effect of quercetin (Q) on (a) the seizure score, (b) the onset of the seizure (latency to the first seizure), (c) the time of generalized tonic-clonic seizure, and (d) the number of seizures. n = 6, *Significant (P ≤ 0.5) compared to the induced group
Figure 3
Figure 3
The effect of quercetin (Q) on the mortality rate (n = 6)
Figure 4
Figure 4
The effect of quercetin (Q) on the serum levels of (a) IL-1 beta and (b) prostaglandin E2. n = 6, *Significant (P ≤ 0.5) compared to the induced group
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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