Resveratrol in epilepsy: preventive or treatment opportunities?

Abstract

Resveratrol has been extensively investigated and has been demonstrated to have antioxidant properties, cancer chemopreventive activity, and the capacity to modulate the hepatic synthesis of triglycerides and cholesterol, among others well established actions. A noteworthy feature of resveratrol is its ability to cross the blood-brain barrier and to exhibit neuroprotective actions, mainly by their capacity to regulate redox pathways as well as the Sirtuin (SIRT) system, which in turn modulates gene transcription, controlling inflammation and apoptosis in the brain. Lately, evidence is accumulating with respect to the synergic effect of resveratrol with antiepileptic drugs and also its antiepileptic activity in various models of seizures. We discuss here recent evidence that strongly suggests that resveratrol acts as an anticonvulsant agent and could be a very effective method for reducing damage in neural tissue and even for preventing seizure development in coadjuvant antiepileptic therapy.