Sericin alleviates pentylenetetrazole kindling epilepsy and associated comorbidities via modulation of GABA-T enzyme and mitochondrial activity

Objective: To assess the effect of sericin against pentylenetetrazole (PTZ) kindling epilepsy and its associated comorbidities. Methods: Epilepsy was induced with PTZ at the dose of 30 mg/kg i.p. on alternative days for 25 days in rats. Sericin was administered orally at the doses of 250, 500, and 1000 mg/kg for 35 days. The behavioral activities were performed using an elevated plus maze, forced swim test, and Morris water maze test. A PTZ challenge test was conducted on day 32. On day 35, rats were sacrificed to perform oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction, neuroinflammation, neurotransmitters, GABA-T activity, and histopathological analyses. Results: Sericin at 500 and 1000 mg/kg significantly reduced behavioral changes and neuroinflammatory cytokines, as well as improved oxidative stress, mitochondrial enzyme complex activity, neurotransmitter level, and GABA-T enzymatic activity (P<0.05). Moreover, sericin improved the neuronal survival altered by PTZ kindling in rat hippocampus. Conclusions: Sericin mitigates epilepsy-associated secondary complications possibly by the modulation of mitochondrial enzyme complexes and GABA-T enzymatic activity.