Investigation of the Antiepileptic Effect of (R)-(-) and (S)-(+) Carvone in Penicillin-Induced Epileptiform Activity Model

Abstract

Aim: Epilepsy affects approximately 70 million people worldwide. While many drugs can prevent seizures, they have a limited impact on preventing or curing the disease. In this perspective, natural compounds, especially monoterpenes derived from medicinal plants, have been investigated in epilepsy models, such as carvone (CAR). The principal constituent of peppermint oil, (R)-(-)-carvone (R-CAR), and the primary component in cumin and dill seed oils, (S)-(+)-carvone (S-CAR), find diverse applications in cosmetics, food, and pharmaceutical formulations. This study aims to investigate the antiepileptic effects of the natural compounds S-CAR and R-CAR in penicillin (PEN)-induced experimental epilepsy model in rats.
 Material and Methods: In the research, 91 male Wistar rats were used. The rats were grouped 3 main groups as common groups, pre-penicillin groups and post-penicillin groups. The main groups were divided into a total of 13 subgroups. Electrocardiogram recording was taken from rats. At the end of the experiment, the latency of the first epileptiform activity, spike-wave frequency (SWF), and spike-wave amplitude (SWA) of the epileptiform activity were analyzed. 
 Results: S-CAR and R-CAR administered before penicillin prolonged the latency to the onset of the first epileptiform activity. S-CAR and R-CAR administered before penicillin decreased SWF. 100 mg/kg doses of S-CAR and R-CAR injected 30 minutes after penicillin administration decreased SWF. While 200 mg/kg dose of R-CAR administered before penicillin decreased SWA in a time-dependent manner, 100 mg/kg dose of S-CAR administered after penicillin decreased SWA.
 Conclusion: These findings indicate that carvone could exhibit both protective and therapeutic effects in the management of epilepsy.