Anticonvulsant properties of linalool in glutamate-related seizure models

In order to investigate the pharmacodynamic basis of the previously-establi shed anticonvulsant properties of linalool, we examined the effects of this compound on behavioral and neurochemical aspects of glutamate expression i n experimental seizure models. Specifically, linalool effects were investig ated to determine its inhibition of (i) L-[H-3]glutamate binding at CNS (ce ntral nervous system membranes), (ii) N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA)-induced c onvulsions, (iii) quinolinic acid (QUIN)-induced convulsions, and the behav ioral and neurochemical correlates of PTZ-kindling. The data indicate that linalool modulates glutamate activation expression in vitro (competitive an tagonism of L-[H-3]glutamate binding) and in vivo (delayed NMDA convulsions and blockage of QUIN convulsions). Linalool partially inhibited and signif icantly delayed the behavioral expression of PTZ-kindling, but did not modi fy the PTZ-kindling-induced increase in L-[H-3]glutamate binding.