Ferulic Acid Inhibits Catamenial Epilepsy Through Modulation of Female Hormones

The study investigated the effects of ferulic acid on catamenial epilepsy, a condition affecting approximately 40% of women with epilepsy and characterized by perimenstrual seizure exacerbation. The researchers induced pseudo-pregnancy in adult Swiss albino female mice by artificially increasing progesterone and neurosteroid levels. They then treated the mice with ferulic acid (25, 50, 100 mg/kg) for 10 days. The treatment with ferulic acid significantly decreased seizure susceptibility and depression-like behaviors, likely due to increased progesterone, restored estradiol, corticosterone, monoamine, and glutamic acid decarboxylase enzyme activity. The study concluded that ferulic acid exhibited antiepileptic effects in a mouse model of catamenial epilepsy and comorbid depression due to its restorative effects on circulating hormones and cerebral monoamine and glutamic acid decarboxylase enzyme activity.