Ameliorating effects of cinnamon and curcumin on oxidative stress in lithium-pilocarpine induced status epilepticus model

Abstract

The lithium-pilocarpine (Li-Pc) model of status epilepticus (SE) is most convenient and is
frequently used for pathophysiological and management strategies in search of new, safe and
effective therapeutic agents including the natural remedies for SE. Oral administration of
cinnamon (CIN) and curcumin (CUR) can reduce neuroinflammation which is a common
feature of neurodegenerative pathophysiological disorders. Although many studies on CUR
effects on SE has been undertaken, to our best knowledge no study has been conducted on
studying the effect of CIN on SE.
The present study explores the neuroprotective effects of natural food products CUR and CIN
on Li-Pc induced SE in rats.
SE was induced in experimental rats using lithium – pilocarpine model. Besides control
groups, the animals were also grouped as treatment groups which received CIN and CUR
pre-treatment before induction of SE. Besides severity of the seizures, cognitive dysfunctions,
oxidative stress parameters were also estimated in the forebrain tissue of all group of animals.
Treatment with CIN and CUR significantly ameliorated the frequency and severity of epileptic
seizures in a dose-dependent manner. The cognitive dysfunctions as well as the oxidative
stress indices (enzymatic as well as non-enzymatic) were ameliorated significantly and dosedependently
by CIN and CUR pre-treatment in the order CUR<CIN in all parameters.
Possible therapeutic application of CIN and CUR as antiepileptic and as antioxidant for the
treatment of SE has a great potential and warrants further studies.