Evaluation of Safety and Efficacy of Cuprum metallicum in Zebrafish and Mouse Models as a Potential Drug Candidate for the Management of Seizures.

Background: In an alternative medicinal system, Cuprum metallicum (CM) is used for the management of seizure-like conditions. However, there is a lack of scientific evidence regarding its effect.

Objective: The present study aimed to evaluate the effect of CM against Pentylenetetrazoleinduced seizures in zebrafish and mice.

Methods: Zebrafish were exposed to CM-6C, CM-30C, and valproic acid for 1 Hr then fish were exposed to pentylenetetrazole to record seizure score and locomotor pattern using ANY maze video tracking software. Mice were pretreated with CM-6C, CM-30C, and valproic acid for 10 days. After 30 min of the last dose, pentylenetetrazole was administered intraperitoneally. Observations during the next 30 min were recorded to detect latency to first myoclonic jerk (FMJ), tonic-clonic seizures, and the severity of seizure and survival protection after 24 Hrs.

Results: PTZ exposure significantly decreased the latency from score-1 to score-5, which CM-6C and 30C significantly increased. Furthermore, CM-6C and 30C normalized the locomotor activity affected by PTZ exposure. Among the animals treated with the CM-6C and 30C, significantly increased latency to FMJ, tonic-clonic seizures, and survival protection compared to the PTZ group of Cuprum met.

Conclusion: The results of the study indicate that CM 6C and 30C have the potential to work against seizures as they attenuated the PTZ-induced seizures in Zebrafish and BALB/c mice. It could be presumed that CM-6C and 30C could be a beneficial alternative drug candidate for the treatment of epilepsy.