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Introduction: Epilepsy is a group of chronic neurological disorders characterized by seizures. The present study aimed to investigate the effects of Satureja bachtiarica essential oil in preventing epilepsy. Methods: In this experimental study, 50 mice were randomly assigned to five groups of 10 each. The control group received normal saline plus tween-80 and after 30 min pentylenetetrazol (PTZ). Groups 2 and 3 were treated first with S. bachtiarica essential oil at 50 and 100 mg/kg , respectively and then after 30 min received PTZ. Group 4 received diazepam and 30 min later PTZ. Group 5 received flumazenil and 30 min later PTZ. After the last injection of PTZ, the time of seizure onset, seizure severity and score, the completion time of each seizure (attack episode), and mortality rate in different groups were recorded and compared. Results: The administration of S. bachtiarica essential oil at 50 and 100 mg/kg to PTZ-treated mice caused a significant increase in latency to the first seizure and survival of mice, as well as a significant decrease in the frequency of the head and upper limbs seizure, total body seizures, tonic seizures, and jumping. S. bachtiarica essential oil at 100 mg/kg caused a significant decrease in the head tic frequency. The administration of flumazenil significantly inhibited S. bachtiarica essential oil-induced effects and increased the head and upper limbs seizures, tonic seizures, and jumping. Conclusion: The present study demonstrated that S. bachtiarica essential oil could prevent PTZ-induced seizure and these findings authenticate the traditional claims about the use of S. bachtiarica in treating epilepsy.

Introduction: In stroke models, Inducible Nitric Oxide Synthase (iNOS) expression initiates cellular toxicity due to excessive Nitric Oxide (NO) generation. Anchusa italica is a medicinal herb with anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and neuroprotective properties. This study evaluated the antioxidant activity and NOS mRNA expression of the Hydroalcoholic Extract Of Anchusa Italica (HEAI) in an experimental stroke model in rats. Methods: The stroke model was induced by bilateral occlusion of both common carotid arteries for 60 min. Twenty-four hours after surgery, HEAI (50 and 100 mg/kg i.p.) was injected daily for 10 consecutive days. mRNA expression levels of NOS subtypes and hippocampal Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF) were studied using real-time PCR. Besides, hippocampal tissue plus serum concentrations of NO and malondialdehyde (MDA) were measured. Results: HEAI decreased MDA in both serum and hippocampal tissue and also reduced serum NO levels. Additionally, in the HEAI-treated groups, a down-regulation of iNOS mRNA expression, and an up-regulation of BDNF mRNA expression were observed. Conclusion: The results indicated that the administration of HEAI even after the onset of ischemia protects the brain from free radical injury and inflammation via a down-regulation of iNOS expression inhibiting NO production and an up-regulation of BDNF mRNA.