Somaieh Mansouri - Pharmacological Research Center of Medicinal Plants, School of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran Department of Anatomy, School of Medicine, North Khorasan University of Medical Sciences, Bojnurd, Iran
Mahmoud Hosseini - Division of Neurocognitive Sciences, Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
Fatemeh Alipour - Applied Biomedical Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
Farimah Beheshti - Neuroscience Research Center, Torbat Heydariyeh University of Medical Sciences, Torbat Heydariyeh, Iran Department of Physiology, School of Paramedical Sciences, Torbat Heydariyeh University of Medical Sciences, Torbat Heydariyeh, Iran
Hassan Rakhshandeh - Pharmacological Research Center of Medicinal Plants, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran Science, Mashhad, Iran.
Abbas Mohammadipour - Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
Akbar Anaeigoudari - Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, Jiroft University of Medical Sciences, Jiroft, Iran
Mohammad Jalili-nik - Department of Biochemistry, School of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
Mohammad Reza Khazdair - Cardiovascular Diseases Research Center, Birjand University of Medical Sciences, Birjand, Iran
Amirali Jahani - Department of Laboratory Sciences, School of Paramedical Sciences, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran

Objective: Neuroprotective and antioxidant effects of Ocimum basilicum (O. basilicum) against pentylenetetrazole (PTZ)-induced seizures were investigated. Materials and Methods: Mice were divided as follows: (Group ۱) Control, (Group ۲) PTZ, (Groups ۳-۵) ۵۰,۱۰۰ and ۲۰۰ mg/kg hydro-ethanolic (HE) extract, and (Groups ۶-۸) ۲۰۰ mg/kg ethyl-acetate (EAF), N-hexane (NHF) and water (WF) fractions. Minimal clonic seizures (MCS) and generalized tonic-clonic seizures (GTCS) latencies were measured. Biochemical and histological studies were done.Results: MCS and GTCS latency in HE groups were longer than the PTZ group (p<۰.۰۵ to p<۰.۰۰۱). EAF and NHF prolonged the onset of MCS and GTCS (p<۰.۰۰۱). PTZ increased malondialdehyde (MDA) and dark neuron (DN) production while decreased thiol, catalase (CAT) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) (p<۰.۰۵ to p<۰.۰۰۱).  Pre-treatment by HE and all fractions of the plant attenuated MDA and DN while increased thiol, CAT and SOD (p<۰.۰۱ to p<۰.۰۰۱).Conclusion: EAF and NHF had anticonvulsant properties. The extract and fractions protected the brain from PTZ-induced oxidative damages and showed neuroprotective effects.

Neuroprotective, Ocimum basilicum, Oxidative stress, Pentylenetetrazole, Seizures