Antiepileptic activity of Essential Oil isolated from Commiphora Myrrha resin and its effect on brain GABA level

Aim: The present study was undertaken to investigate the antiepileptic activity of the essential oil of the Oleo-gum-resin obtained from Commiphora Myrrha (CM) resins. Material and Methods: The essential oil from Commiphora Myrrha (EOCM) was isolated using the Clevenger apparatus. The anticonvuisant effect was examined against pentylenetetrazole (PTZ), strychnine, and maximal-electroshock (MES)-induced acute convulsions in mice. Flumazenil and diazepam were added to establish the anticonvulsant mechanism of EOCM. To understand the effect of EOCM on brain GABA level, intact mice brains were harvested and GABA level was determined. Results: EOCM has shown the maximum decline in spontaneous motor activity at 2 hours. EOCM has not shown any protection against the strychnine-induced model. In the PTZ model, mice treated with EOCM at medium (p<0.01) and high dose (p<0.001) have shown a significant and dose-dependent increase in the latency of tonic convulsions and a decline in % mortality compared to the control group. Against the MES model, EOCM at medium (p<0.05) and high doses (p<0.01) have shown a significant decline in the length of hind-limb tonic extension (HLTE) and % mortality compared to the control group. A high dose of EOCM + diazepam (0.5 mg/kg/bw) has shown a synergistic effect. Flumazenil drastically reverses the protection offered by EOCM and diazepam. Moreover, EOCM plain has increased GABA levels in the brain. Discussion: EOCM is very useful in the control of clonic seizures, and the effect is related to the GABA-A receptor Cl- channel modulating property and partly by increasing GABA levels in the brain.

Automated summary

The study found that the essential oil of Commiphora Myrrha has significant anticonvulsant effects in the PTZ-induced epilepsy model, possibly related to modulating GABA levels. However, no protective effect was observed in the strychnine-induced model.