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Research Article Volume 14 Issue 4
Proconvulsant and anticonvulsant effects of Citrus aurantium L in zebrafish
Padua-Rodríguez, GC Rosa-Hernández, M Méndez Pérez A, Ortiz JG
Received: July 30, 2026 | Published: September 25, 2026
Citation: Padua-Rodríguez, Rosa-Hernández GC, Pérez MMA, et al. Proconvulsant and anticonvulsant effects of Citrus aurantium L in zebrafish. Pharm Pharmacol Int J. 2026;14(4):127-129. DOI: 10.15406/ppij.2026.14.00504
Abstract
Bitter orange leaf (Citrus aurantium, CA) has anticonvulsant and anxiolytic properties. We examined the effect of a hydroethanolic CA extract (CAe) on seizure behavior. Adult Zebrafish (Danio rerio) were pre-incubated with different CAe concentrations, while untreated fish served as controls. The convulsant activity was assessed by exposing fish to pentylenetetrazole (3 mg/mL) and recording the seizure latency. Proconvulsant effects are observed at low CAe concentrations (0.005-0.063 mg/mL), followed by an apparent plateau, and at concentrations above 0.175 mg/mL, anticonvulsant effects. The proconvulsant effects might be due to the interaction of glutamate receptors (GluR) because CA increases [3H]glutamate binding at low concentrations (0.001-0.01mg/mL), interacting with NMDA and mGluR-II receptors. An aqueous extract, CAa, has similar anticonvulsant properties to those of the leaf infusion. Understanding the mechanisms underlying the proconvulsant effects of low CAe doses could identify strategies to reduce or eliminate them, ultimately enhancing its therapeutic potential.
Keywords: Citrus aurantium, pentylenetetrazole, zebrafish, proconvulsant, anticonvulsant
©2026 Padua-Rodríguez,, et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and build upon your work non-commercially.