Anticonvulsant activity of some vanilloid receptor agonists

Abstract

Background: Vanilloid receptors 1 (VR 1), a group of transient receptor potential channels family was cloned in 1997. They were found to be a potential target for treatment of different acute and chronic pain disorder. Recently these receptors were reported to be involved in several  pathological conditions.
Objectives: The present study aimed to investigate the potential  anticonvulsant activity of five vanilloidal agonists (capsaicin, nonivamide, zingerone, dehydrozingerone and 6-gingerol).
Methods: Experimental animal model of pentylenetetrazole (PTZ) induced seizure was used to investigate the potential anticonvulsant activity of capsaicin, nonivamide, zingerone, dehydrozingerone and 6-gingerol.
Results: The data obtained showed that, all tested compounds (capsaicin, nonivamide, zingerone, dehydrozingerone and 6-gingerol) possess dose dependant anticonvulsant activity.
Conclusion: The five vanilloidal agonists; capsaicin, nonivamide,  zingerone, dehydrozingerone and 6-gingerol exhibit anticonvulsant activity and may find clinical applications.

Key words: Anticonvulsant, vanilloid receptor agonists and  pentylenetetrazole