Adult male rats were cannulated into intracerebroventricular (i.c.v). The anticonvulsant effects of rutin were investigated using the pentylenetetrazole (PTZ)-induced seizure model. The animals were placed individually in plastic boxes and observed immediately after PTZ injection for a period of 30 min. Rutin, diazepam and normal saline were injected i.c.v. at the doses (25-150 nmol), (10 ml/kg) and (5mg/kg) respectively 30 minutes before PTZ (90 mg/kg, i.p). The latency to minimal clonic seizure (MCS), generalized tonic-clonic seizure (GTCS) and percent of mortality protection were recorded, as well as the percentages of protection against the mortality.
Also, for investigating the mechanism of rutin, flumazenil (5 mg/kg) and naloxone (10 mg/kg) were also injected 5 minutes before rutin.