%0 Journal Article %T Effect of curcumin, the active constituent of turmeric, on penicillin-induced epileptiform activity in rats %J Avicenna Journal of Phytomedicine %I Mashhad University of Medical Sciences %Z 2228-7930 %A Tamaddonfard, Esmaeal %A Erfanparast, Amir %A Hamzeh-Gooshchi, Nasrin %A Yousofizadeh, Shahnaz %D 2012 %\ 09/01/2012 %V 2 %N 4 %P 196-205 %! Effect of curcumin, the active constituent of turmeric, on penicillin-induced epileptiform activity in rats %K Curcumin %K Diazepam %K Penicillin-Induced Seizures %K Rats %R 10.22038/ajp.2012.109 %X Objective: Curcumin is a major constituent of turmeric and has many biological functions such as anticancer and anti-inflammatory effects. The present study was conducted to investigate the effects of curcumin and diazepam in separate and combined treatments on penicillin-induced seizures in rats. Materials and Methods: In urethane-anesthetized rats, epileptiform activity was induced by intracortical (i.c.) administration of penicillin (200 IU, 1 µl), and frequency and amplitude of spike waves were analyzed using electrocorticographic recordings. Results: Intraperitoneal (i.p.) injections ofcurcumin at doses of 100 and 200 mg/kg, and intracerebroventricular (i.c.v.) injection of diazepam at a dose of 5 µg significantly (p<0.05) reduced both frequency and amplitude of spike waves. Co-administrations of curcumin (50 mg/kg, i.p.) with diazepam (5 µg, i.c.v.) enhanced the antiepileptic effect of diazepam (5 µg, i.c.v.).  Conclusion: The results suggested that both curcumin and diazepam suppressed penicillin-induced epileptiform activity. A potentiation effect was observed between curcumin and diazepam in reducing penicillin-induced seizures.  %U https://ajp.mums.ac.ir/article_109_557710a0af18c607818d4df91928bf85.pdf