anticonvulsant effect of guaifenesin against pentylenetetrazol-induced seizure in mice

background: there have been some reports about the possible n-methyl-d-aspartate (nmda) antagonist activity of guaifenesin. as drugs with a similar structure to guaifenesin (i.e. felbamate) and those with nmda antagonist activity have been clinically used as anticonvulsants, the aim of this study was to determine whether guaifenesin has an anticonvulsant effect in an animal model of seizure. methods: anticonvulsant effect of guaifenesin was assessed via pentylenetetrazol (ptz)-induced convulsion. male albino mice received guaifenesin (100, 200, 300, or 400 mg/kg; n=8-10) or 0.25% tween (vehicle) intraperitoneally 30 minutes before the injection of ptz (95 mg/kg). diazepam (3 mg/kg; n=8) was used as a reference drug. the latency time before the onset of myoclonic, clonic, and tonic-clonic convulsions, percentage of animals exhibiting convulsion, and percentage of mortality were recorded. in addition, the effect of guaifenesin on neuromuscular coordination was assessed using the rotarod. results: guaifenesin at all the studied doses significantly increased the latency to myoclonic and clonic convulsions in a dose-dependent manner. in addition, guaifenesin at the dose of 300 mg/kg increased the latency to tonic-clonic seizure. the ed50s of guaifenesin for protection against ptz-induced clonic and tonic-clonic seizures and death were 744.88 (360-1540), 256 (178-363), and 328 (262-411) mg/kg, respectively. guaifenesin at all the investigated doses significantly reduced neuromuscular coordination, compared to the vehicle-treated group. conclusion: these results suggest that guaifenesin possesses muscle relaxant and anticonvulsant properties and may have a potential clinical use in absence seizure.