Anticonvulsant effects of 3, 4-Dimethoxy toluene, the major constituent of Phoenix dactylifera L Spathe in mice

The anticonvulsant effects of 3,4-Dimethoxy toluene (DMT), the major constituent of the date palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.) spathe, were investigated using pentylenetetrazole (PTZ), picrotoxin (Pic), nicotine (Nic) and maximal electroshock (MES)-induced seizure models. In PTZ (85 mg/kg)-induced seizures, the intraperitoneally injection of DMT at a dose of 100 mg/kg significantly delayed the onset time of seizures and produced 50% protective effect against mortality. In MES model, DMT showed complete inhibition of tonic hind-limb extension (THLE) and exhibited complete protection against mortality. After mice were injected with picrotoxin (12 mg/kg), DMT (100 mg/kg) significantly delayed the onset time of convulsions and death. DMT exhibited complete protection against nicotine (0.8 mg/kg)-induced convulsions. These results indicate that DMT may have a promising anticonvulsant activity.