Caffeic acid phenethyl ester protects mice against nicotine-induced seizures by attenuating oxidative stress and inflammation

Background and purpose: A seizure is a neurological disorder in the brain that is caused by changes in the function of brain neurons. Caffeic acid phenetyl ester (CAPE), as a polyphenol, has antioxidant, anti­inflammatory, and anticancer effects. Since the effects of CAPE on the neurotoxins and neurotoxic medicinal agents have not been widely investigated, this study aimed to investigate the effect of CAPE on the nicotine (NIC)-induced seizures in mice. Experimental approach: Thirty-three male mice were divided into five groups of 6-8 as follows: sham group (normal saline), NIC group (5 mg/kg single dose on day 7), treatment groups (CAPE at 4 and 8 mg/kg for 7 days), and diazepam group (1 mg/kg single dose on day 7). At the end, the animals were anesthetized, and mortality, convulsive behavior, total thiol, thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), nitric oxide (NO), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), and the expression of nuclear factor kappa B (NF-kB) protein in the brain frontal cortex were measured, and histological studies were performed. Findings/Results: Treatment with CAPE decreased the levels of TBARS, TNF-α, and NO and increased the levels of total thiol, CAT, SOD, GPx, and NF-kB protein expression compared to the NIC group. Seizure behavioral tests and histopathological investigations confirmed these results. Conclusion and implications: According to the antioxidant effects of CAPE in various studies, it seems that CAPE can improve seizures by reducing inflammation and inhibiting oxidative stress.