Natural Plants with Antiepileptic Activity-The Present and Future Perspectives

Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) has use in certain parts of the world and has gained increasing interest. People with epilepsy (PWE) take natural products or other forms of CAM mainly to enhance general health, but also to prevent seizures or to alleviate symptoms of co-morbidities or side effects of antiepileptic medications. The well developed medical systems, such as traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), Unani and Ayurveda are often the basis for treating PWE. Based on reports of efficacy in PWE, natural products from these traditions are increasingly being studied in animal models of epilepsy and for further clinical development have been identified. It is likely, therefore, that natural products will be further evaluated for safety, tolerability and efficacy in PWE with drug-resistant seizures.