Geraniol Emerges as Potential Treatment for Seizures
A promising new study suggests that geraniol, a compound found in essential oils, could be a key player in the fight against seizures. Researchers from the United States teamedup with colleagues from Saudi Arabia and Egypt to explore the potential of geraniol as an anticonvulsant, investigating its effects both in lab settings and in living animals.
The study, led by Nancy S. Younis and Mervt M. Almostafa, delved into the intricacies of how geraniol might work to prevent seizures. Using nerve cells (PC12 cells) grown in a laboratory dish, they found that geraniol protected these cells from damage caused by glutamate, a neurotransmitter implicated in seizures.
“Ger up to 400 μg/mL did not display any toxicity or injury in PC12 cells,” the researchers noted.
Digging deeper, they discovered that geraniol boosted the expression of genes involved in the GABAergic pathway, a system in the brain that helps control neuronal excitability. "Ger (100 to 200 μg/mL) increased GABA and reduced TNF-α, IL-4 and IL-1β levels in NGF-induced PC12 cells injured by Glu,” the study found.
Taking their findings to the next level, the team tested geraniol in mice prone to seizures caused by pentylenetetrazole (PTZ).
Here, they observed a remarkable effect. Geraniol not only reduced seizure severity but also appeared to protect against the long-term damage often associated with seizures.
"Ger mitigated MDA, NO, IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α and IFN-γ, GFAP, caspase-3, and − 9 levels and Bax gene expression and escalated GSH, SOD, catalase, BDNF and Bcl2 gene expression," the researchers reported.
This suggests that geraniol acts on multiple levels to combat seizures. In addition to its calming effects on brain activity, it also fights inflammation and oxidative stress, two processes known to contribute to brain damage during seizures.
These promising findings open new avenues for the development of innovative seizure treatments. More research is needed to determine the precise mechanisms by which geraniol exerts its effects and to see if it is safe and effective in humans. However, this preliminary study suggests that geraniol, a natural compound found in everyday plants, could hold great potential for improving the lives of people living with epilepsy.
