Flavonoids are important constituents of food and beverages, and several studies have shown that
they have neuroactive properties. Many of these compounds are ligands for γ-aminobutyric acid
type A receptors in the central nervous system. This study aimed to investigate the
anticonvulsant effects of quercetin (3,3′,4′,5,7-pentahydroxyflavone), which is a flavonoid found
in plants, in rats treated with pentylenetetrazole in acute and chronic seizure models. Single
intraperitoneal administration of quercetin did not show anticonvulsive effects against acute
seizure. Similarly, multiple oral pretreatment with quercetin did not have protective effects
against acute seizure. However, multiple intraperitoneal administration of quercetin (25 and 50
mg/kg) significantly increased time to death compared with the control (p < 0.001). However,
quercetin pretreatment had no significant effects on the pattern of convulsion development
during all periods of kindling. But on the test day, quercetin (100 mg/kg) could significantly
increase generalized tonic–clonic seizure onset (GTCS) and decrease GTCS duration compared
with the control (p < 0.01, p < 0.05). We conclude that quercetin has a narrow therapeutic dose
range for anticonvulsant activities in vivo, and it has different effects on the seizure threshold.
The different effects of quercetin on seizure threshold may occur through several mechanisms