Background and Objective: Epilepsy is a common neurological disorder. Plantago major (P.major) is used in traditional medicine due to flovonoids and vitamic C and antioxidant properties. This study was done to evaluate the hydro alcoholic extract of Plantago major L. on pentilentetrazol-induced seizures in male mice.

Methods: In this experimental study, 50 NMRI male mice randomly allocated into control and four experimental groups. Seizures in animals induced by 60 mg/kg/bw of pentilentetrazol (PTZ), interperitoneally. Animals in experimental groups were received 5, 10, 25 and 50 mg/kg/bw of hydro alcoholic extract of Plantago major L. 30 min before each PTZ injection. The animals in control group were received saline, interperitoneally. After treatment, the behavior of animals during 20 minutes and mortality rate were recorded.

Results: Seizure threshold of animals significantly increased in experimental groups which were received 50, 25, 10 mg/kg/bw of P.major extract in comparision with controls (P<0.05). Mortality rate of animals significantly reduced in experimental groups which were received 50, 25, 10 mg/kg/bw of P.major extract in comparision with controls (P<0.05).

Conclusion: The hydro-alcoholic extract of Plantago major L. reduces seizure threshold in pentilentetrazol-induced seizures mice.

Background and Objective: Hippocampus is the main region in cortex of the brain that involved in epilepsy. This study was done to determine the effect of intraventricular injection of vitamin C on histological structure of dentate gyrus of hipocampus in adult male epileptic rats.

Methods: In this experimental study, 40 adult male rats were randomly allocated into 5 groups (n=8). Animals in three groups were received vitamin C at dose (12.5, 25 and 50 mg/kg/bw) during 28 days, intraventricularly after were kindled by (pentylentetrazol; 40 mg/kg). Animals in forth group were received normal saline after were kindled by (pentylentetrazol; 40 mg/kg). Animals in the fifth group were received normal saline. After 28 days, rats were anesthetized by ketamin, then structure of hypocamp dissected. Histological passage was done in samples and coronal section was carried out. The sections of samples were stained by Hematoxyline-eosin. Forty fields systematicly were counted the normal neurons in dentate gyrus. Morphological change was determined by immunohistochemical method.

Results: The mean  number of normal neurons in dentate gyrus in epileptic rats which  received 25 g/kg vitamin C was more than animals in groups which were received doses of 12.5, 25 and 50 mg/kg vitamin C (P<0.05). This mean number of normal neurons in dentate gyrus of hypocamp in epileptic rats which received normal saline was lower than control and other experimental groups (P<0.05). Extensive morphological change in neurons of dentate gyrus in epileptic rats which received normal saline were observed (P<0.05). The lowest  morphological change were observed in neurons of dentate gyrus in epileptic rats which received at dose 25 mg/kg vitamin C in compared to the other groups (P<0.05).

Conclusion: Intraventricular injection of vitamin C in epileptic rat's dose dependly had neuroprotective effect on dentate gyrus neurons.