Acute Boldine Treatment Induces Anti-convulsant Effects in Mice through its Antioxidant Activity

Boldine is a natural antioxidant that exhibits some important pharmacological properties, which is due to its free radical scavenging effects. And at the same time, reactive oxygen species (ROS) has an important role in pathogenesis of seizure; hence, reducing it via antioxidants like boldine seems to be effective in treating seizure. This study was designed to investigate whether acute treatment with boldine could alter seizures induced by pentylenetetrazole or electroshock in mice. We also evaluated to see if boldine's antioxidant properties play a role in its anti-convulsant activity. Boldine acute administration increased time latencies to the onset of myoclonic jerks and clonic seizures induced by intraperitoneal pentylenetetrazole model. Moreover, boldine increased seizure threshold induced by intravenous infusion of pentylenetetrazole. Additionally, acute doses of boldine reduced the duration of tonic hind-limb extension in the electroshock-induced seizure model. Non-effective dose of vitamin C (as an antioxidant agent) and boldine had anti-convulsant effect in intraperitoneal pentylenetetrazole, intravenous pentylenetetrazole and electroshock models. Boldine administration increased glutathione and superoxide dismutase levels in mice whole brain. The result showed boldine anti-seizure properties, which might be due to its antioxidant activity.