Aegle marmelos Ameliorates epilepsy through suppression of oxidative stress and inflammation

Background: Epilepsy remains one of the leading neurological diseases. More than one mechanism exists for epilepsy. Inflammation and oxidative stress are amongst the mechanisms leading to epilepsy. In the current work, we evaluated whether Aegle marmelos (AM) is able to reverse epilepsy. Objectives: We induced epilepsy in zebrafish through the administration of pentylenetetrazole as a model organism. Materials and Methods: To assess the anti-epileptic potency of plant extract, behavioural changes were recorded and analysed by Behavioural Observation Research Interactive Software. Further, oxidative stress, glutathione peroxidase and lipid peroxidation (LPO) levels were estimated. Real-time polymerase chain reaction was performed to quantify the expression of inflammatory markers tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNFα) and interleukin 1 beta (IL-1β). Results: Epilepsy-induced animals displayed a pronounced behavioural change in swimming patterns and preference for darkness and stayed longer periods at the bottom of the tank. On the other hand, plant extract treated animals reversed the behavioural alterations induced by epilepsy. Oxidative stress was seen in animals induced with epilepsy and the same was reversed in animals that were treated with plant extract. LPO was elevated in epilepsy whereas plant extract reduced the same. Inflammatory markers such as TNFα and IL-1β levels were higher in epileptic animals whereas their expression levels were reduced by treatment with the plant extract. Histopathological examination also revealed the inflammatory reaction in the brain induced by epilepsy. Conclusion: Treatment with the plant extract restored the tissue architecture to normal. Overall, there was a major reversal of behaviour, oxidative stress and inflammation upon treatment with the plant extract indicating the anti-epileptic potential of AM.