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Carveol Attenuates Seizure Severity and Neuroinflammation in Pentylenetetrazole-Kindled Epileptic Rats by Regulating the Nrf2 Signaling Pathway
Oxidative Medicine and Cellular Longevity
  • Arooj Mohsin Alvi, Riphah International University
  • Lina Tariq Al Kury, Zayed University
  • Abdullah Alattar, University of Tabuk
  • Ikram Ullah, International Islamic University, Islamabad
  • Asmaa Jan Muhammad, Riphah International University
  • Reem Alshaman, University of Tabuk
  • Fawad Ali Shah, Riphah International University
  • Arif Ullah Khan, Riphah International University
  • Jinxing Feng
  • Shupeng Li, Peking University
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
8-11-2021
Abstract

Epilepsy is a neurodegenerative brain disorder characterized by recurrent seizure attacks. Numerous studies have suggested a strong correlation between oxidative stress and neuroinflammation in several neurodegenerative disorders including epilepsy. This study is aimed at investigating the neuroprotective effects of the natural compound carveol against pentylenetetrazole- (PTZ-) induced kindling and seizure model. Two different doses of carveol (10 mg/kg and 20 mg/kg) were administered to male rats to determine the effects and the effective dose of carveol and to further demonstrate the mechanism of action of nuclear factor E2-related factor (Nrf2) in PTZ-induced kindling model. Our results demonstrated reduced levels of innate antioxidants such as superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase, glutathione-S-transferase (GST), and glutathione (GSH), associated with elevated lipid peroxidation (LPO) and inflammatory cytokines level such as tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), and mediators like cyclooxygenase (COX-2) and nuclear factor kappa B (NFκB). These detrimental effects exacerbated oxidative stress and provoked a marked neuronal alteration in the cortex and hippocampus of PTZ-intoxicated animals that were associated with upregulated Nrf2 gene expression. Furthermore, carveol treatment positively modulated the antioxidant gene Nrf2 and its downstream target HO-1. To further investigate the role of Nrf2, an inhibitor of Nrf2 called all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) was used, which further exacerbated PTZ toxicity. Moreover, carveol treatment induced cholinergic system activation by mitigating acetylcholinesterase level which is further linked to attenuated neuroinflammatory cascade. The extent of blood-brain barrier disruption was evaluated based on vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) expression. Taken together, our findings suggest that carveol acts as an Nrf2 activator and therefore induces downstream antioxidants and mitigates inflammatory insults through multiple pathways. This eventually alleviates PTZ-induced neuroinflammation and neurodegeneration.

Publisher
Hindawi
Scopus ID
85113475740
Creative Commons License
Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International
Indexed in Scopus
Yes
Open Access
Yes
Open Access Type
Gold: This publication is openly available in an open access journal/series
Citation Information
Arooj Mohsin Alvi, Lina Tariq Al Kury, Abdullah Alattar, Ikram Ullah, et al.. "Carveol Attenuates Seizure Severity and Neuroinflammation in Pentylenetetrazole-Kindled Epileptic Rats by Regulating the Nrf2 Signaling Pathway" Oxidative Medicine and Cellular Longevity Vol. 2021 (2021) ISSN: <a href="https://v2.sherpa.ac.uk/id/publication/issn/1942-0994" target="_blank">1942-0994</a>
Available at: http://works.bepress.com/lina-alkury/40/