Ameliorative Potential of Resveratrol on Experimentally-Induced Seizures

The aim of this study was to investigate the potential enhancement effects of resveratrol on the anticonvulsant effect of diazepam in pilocarpine induced seizures in rats. This study was carried out in 50 male albino rats subdivided into five equal groups; group1 received saline 0.9 % intraperitoneally and served as the control group; group 2 received pilocarpine; group 3 received resveratrol 30 min prior to pilocarpine; group 4 received diazepam 30 min prior to pilocarpine; group 5 received resveratrol/ diazepam combination 30 min prior to pilocarpine. Then, animals were decapitated and the hippocampus was collected and homogenized for determination of tissue interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β), interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), nitric oxide (NO), malondialdehyde level (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) activity. Resveratrol/diazepam combination produced significant decrease in tissue cytokines, NO and MDA while produced significant increase in tissue SOD and CAT activity compared to the use of diazepam alone. Also, this combination produced significant delay in the onset of convulsions and significant decrease in the mortality rates compared to the use of diazepam alone. In conclusion, resveratrol potentiates the anticonvulsant effect of diazepam and this may be beneficial in lowering the incidence of resistance to diazepam and also may allow reduction of its dose and side effects.