Model 7800

The acute anticonvulsant effects of MO in mice were assessed as described by Bum et al. (2001) (link) and Chindo et al. (2009 (link); 2014) (link) with modifications. Briefly, pentylenetetrazole (PTZ, Carl Roth, Karlsruhe, Germany, 85 mg/kg) was administered (i.p.) 30 min post-administration of the essential oil or phenytoin to induce convulsions (seizures) in mice. An electroconvulsive therapy machine (Ugo Basile, Model 7800) was used to induce seizures through corneal electrodes in the maximal electroshock seizure (MES) study. The current, impact duration, and frequency used in the entire study are about 150 mA, 0.2 s, and 50 Hz, respectively. The treated groups received M. officinalis essential oil (MO, 10–200 mg/kg). MO was solubilized in 0.5% tween80 in normal saline and these doses of MO were selected based on previous studies in our Lab (unpublished data). phenytoin (Sigma Chemical Co.) was used as the standard anticonvulsant drug. In both the PTZ and MES acute tests, the ability of MO (10–200 mg/kg) or phenytoin (10 and 25 mg/kg) to prevent or delay tonic hind limb extension or death of mice connotes anticonvulsant activity (Chindo et al., 2009 (link)).