Yafteh

Background: Epilepsy is the second most common neurological disorder globally. Given the high prevalence of epilepsy and its associated challenges, conducting diverse studies to investigate the underlying mechanisms of this disorder is highly valuable and necessary. In this study, the effects of combining melatonin, zinc, and magnesium were investigated for preventing seizures and reducing the duration of seizure attacks.
Materials and Methods: In total, 36 male NMRI mice were randomly assigned to six groups: seizure control, diazepam, melatonin, magnesium, zinc, and the combination of melatonin, zinc, and magnesium. The drugs were administered orally for 14 days. On the 15th day, seizures were induced in the mice using pentylenetetrazol. Latency and duration of seizures were measured in all groups. Mice were euthanized, and their brains were extracted to assess oxidative stress.
Results:  The study results indicated that the combination of melatonin, magnesium, and zinc did not significantly increase the latency phase of seizures; however, it significantly reduced the duration of seizures (P<0.001). Moreover, this combination significantly prevented the increase in malondialdehyde levels in the brain tissue (P< 0.05). It also considerably increased the activity of catalase and superoxide dismutase enzymes, compared to the seizure control group (P< 0.001).
Conclusion: Magnesium, zinc, melatonin, and their combination can exert their anti-seizure effects by reducing seizure duration and alleviating seizure–induced oxidative stress in the brain.