Phytoflavonoids: Antiepileptics for the Future

Epilepsy has become second most common neurological disorder affecting 70 million people worldwide. Several shortcomings appeared with the use of conventional antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) like, inadequate seizure control, side effects, cost, potentiation of epilepsy-induced co-morbidities, etc., which limit their use as comprehensive therapy. Phytoflavonoids in this regard have been observed to be promising AEDs which can interact with most of the possible targets involved in the pathogenesis of epilepsy. They show modulatory effect on voltage gated sodium channels, calcium channels, potassium channels, GABAergic system, opioid receptors, NMDA receptors and posses a strong antioxidant effects through modulation of nitric oxide pathway, xanthine oxidase system and through leukocytic immobilization. Along with antiepileptic effect, flavanoids have also been observed to ameliorate memory deficit and mood disorders commonly associated with AEDs treatment. Based on the vast literature reports, an attempt has been made to collate the fragmented information available on flavonoids, to access there potential as antiepileptics for future. From this review it is cleared that, flavonoids open new encouraging perspectives for the antiepileptic treatment. A prospective randomized trial of flavonoids may be justified in humans.