Abstract
Epilepsy is a global neurological disease that affects the population of all ages and significantly alters the physical and mental wellbeing of the patients. The existing antiepileptic drugs have been shown to exert acute and chronic adverse effects. Thus, novel therapeutics, with potent antiepileptic and neuroprotective effects and minimal adverse effects need to be discovered. In the current study, we investigated the antiepileptic and neuroprotective effects of Oroxylum indicum extract (OIE, Sabroxy®) in a widely accepted kainic acid‐induced epileptic rat model. Based on the racine score (an epileptic score to evaluate the intensity of seizure), OIE ((250 and 500mg/kg), when administered orally for 2 weeks, significantly reduced the kainic acid (single i,p., injection, 10 mg/kg)‐induced epileptic effect in male Sprague‐Dawley rats. In addition, OIE, significantly reduced the levels of markers of reactive oxygen species, lipid peroxide, and apoptosis induced by kainic acid treatment in the cortex of the brain. Moreover, OIE treatment resulted in increased glutathione levels and complex‐1 activity in the cortex, suggesting that OIE enhances antioxidant levels and augments mitochondrial function in the cortex. Taken together, our results are consistent with the conclusion that OIE exhibits anti‐epileptic and neuroprotective effects. Thus, our results suggest that OIE (Sabroxy®) could be an alternative therapeutic approach to treat epilepsy. This is the first study to report the neuroprotective and anti‐epileptic effect of OIE in an epileptic model.