Volume 20, Issue 5 (Sep-Oct 2026)                   mljgoums 2026, 20(5): 27-31 | Back to browse issues page


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Piri F, Sepehri H. Investigating the effect of melissa officinalis extract on pentylenetetrazol-induced seizures in autistic rats. , mljgoums. 2026; 20 (5) :27-31
URL: http://mlj.goums.ac.ir/article-1-1876-en.html
1- Neuroscience Research Center, Biomedical Research Institute, Golestan University of Medical Sciences, Gorgan, Iran
2- Neuroscience Research Center, Biomedical Research Institute, Golestan University of Medical Sciences, Gorgan, Iran , hamsep49@yahoo.com
Abstract:   (5627 Views)
Background: Autism is a disorder characterized by deficits in speech and social interaction and the presence of repetitive, purposeless behaviors. The prevalence of seizures among individuals with autism varies widely, ranging from 5% to 40%. Melissa officinalis is used in traditional Iranian medicine as a sedative, antipyretic, antispasmodic, and anticonvulsant. This study investigated the potential effects of the plant extract on PTZ-induced seizures in a male Wistar rat model of autism.
Methods: Healthy male and female Wistar rats were bred. Pregnant females received a standard diet and water until day 12.5 of gestation. The dams were assigned to four groups: 1. control, 2. autism, 3. autism + Melissa officinalis extract 100 mg/kg, and 4. autism + Melissa officinalis extract 200 mg/kg. Two weeks after birth, PTZ (80 mg/kg) was administered to all groups. The animals were observed for 60 minutes after injection. The Racine criterion was used to evaluate seizure severity.
Results: The anticonvulsant effect exhibited a clear dose-response relationship, with the 200 mg/kg dose producing a significant reduction in seizure duration compared with the 100 mg/kg dose (p < 0.05), indicating dose-dependent efficacy.
Conclusion: Administration of Melissa officinalis extract to male rats with autism reduced PTZ-induced seizure activity. Melissa officinalis extract appears to exert inhibitory effects on PTZ-induced seizures in this autism model.
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Research Article: Research Article | Subject: Others
Received: 2024/11/1 | Accepted: 2025/06/11 | Published: 2026/10/29 | ePublished: 2026/10/29

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