Study on the Anticonvulsant Activity of L-menthol in Mint

Objective:To study the anticonvulsant effect of L-menthol. Methods:Respectively used pentylenetetrazol and N-methyl-D-aspartate(NMDA)induced convulsion model,by observing the influences of L-menthol high(70 mg/kg),medium(30 mg/kg),low(8 mg/kg)three dose groups on convulsion latency,convulsive duration,convulsions and mortality in mice,and it effect on the contents of γ-aminobutyric acid(GABA)and glutamic acid(Glu)in the brain of mice. Study the anticonvulsant effects of L-menthol,and its anti-convulsive mechanism. Results:L-menthol(70 mg/kg)could significantly shorten the duration of seizures caused by pentyltetrazolium and NMDA(p<0.01),prolonged convulsions latency(p<0.01),reduce the times of convulsions,decrease mortality caused by pentylenetetrazol and NMDA to 30% and 20%;L-menthol medium dose group(30 mg/kg)compared with the blank control group can shorten the duration of seizures(p<0.05),prolong the latent period of convulsion(p<0.05),reduce mortality from pentylenetetrazol to 50% and mortality from NMDA to 40%. However,low dose(8 mg/kg)had no significant anticonvulsant effect. At the same time,L-menthol high(70 mg/kg)and medium(30 mg/kg)dose groups could antagonize the decrease of γ-aminobutyric acid content induced by pentylenetetrazole and increased glutamate levels in brain tissue induced by NMDA. Conclusion:L-menthol exhibits a good anticonvulsant effect which might mediate by the modification of GABA ergic and Gluergic systems.