Figure 2

The inhibitory effect of anise oil on production of dark neurons. Anise oil at concentrations of 1 (Pi1), 2 (Pi2), and 3 (Pi3) ml/kg inhibited production of dark neurons in the hippocampal CA1 and CA3 areas in rats after induction of seizure attacks by intraperitoneal pentylenetetrazol (PTZ) injection. (A) Light-microscopic appearance of hematoxilin and eosin (left), crystal violet (middle), and toluidine blue (right) stained dark neurons in 10-μm sections of the CA3 in rats. Dark neurons number in both CA1 and CA3 regions of PTZ group was significantly more than sham and control groups, while anise oil reduced significantly the number of dark neurons in both areas in PTZ group (* p < 0. 01 and ***p < 0.001).