Antiepileptic Effects of Melatonin

Abstract

Epilepsy is a very important chronic neurological disorder, which is characterized by recurrent spontaneous seizure discharges (Dichter 1994). Experimental epilepsy models used for the development of new antiepileptic drugs have played all-important role, but there is no unique experimental model that could be useful for all types of epilepsy (Cakil et al. 2011). It is well known that active oxygen free radicals have a role in the mechanism of epileptic discharges (Mori et al. 1990, Yildirim et al. 2011). Melatonin (Mel) is one of the anticonvulsant substances that reduce the epileptiform activity (Copolla et al. 2004, Fariello et al. 1997, Gloor and Testa 1974, Golombek et al. 1992, Maurizi 1985, Moezi et al. 2011, Reiter 2000, Saracz and Rosdy 2004, Tan et al. 2003, Yahyavi-Firouz-Abadi et al. 2006). It has been suggested that Mel has anticonvulsant (Copolla et al. 2004, Fariello et al. 1997, Golombek et al. 1992, Maurizi et al. 1985, Peled et al. 2001, Reiter et al. 2000, Tan et al. 2003, Yahyavi-Firouz-Abadi et al. 2006) and proconvulsant properties (Elkhayat et al. 1995, Sandyk et al. 1992, Stewart and Leung 2005). Since the results of in vitro experiments are not enough to show the anticonvulsant effect of Mel, in vivo experiments are needed to be performed (Banach et al. 2011). © 2015 by Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.