Anticonvulsant and sedative effect of &lt;i&gt;Fufang Changniu&lt;/i&gt; pills and probable mechanism of action in mice

Huiqin Zhang,Juanjuan Lu,Yi Zhang,Jia Wei,Liya Zhou,Yumei Zhao

doi:10.4314/tjpr.v15i6.18

Abstract

Purpose: To investigate the anticonvulsant and sedative effects of Fufang Changniu Pills (FCP) and its probable mechanism of action in mice.Methods: The water decoction of FCP was prepared and the main constituents were determined by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The anticonvulsant activities of FCP were evaluated by maximal electroshock (MES) and pentylenetetrazole (PTZ)-induced seizures in mice. Pentobarbital sodium-induced sleeping time and locomotor activity measurements were performed to evaluate the sedative effects of FCP in mice. Finally, PTZ-induced chronic seizures were established, and expressions of gamma-aminobutyric acid A receptor (GABA-A) and glutamic acid decarboxylase 65 (GAD65) in the brains of the mice were assayed by western blot in order to explore the probable mechanisms of action of the drug.Results: Gallic acid, liquiritin, cinnamyl alcohol, cinnamic acid and glycyrrhizic acid were detected in FCP decoction. FCP (50, 100 and 200 mg/kg) showed significant anticonvulsant and sedative effects on epileptic mice induced by MES (p < 0.05) and PTZ (p < 0.05). Moreover, pentobarbital sodium-induced sleeping time and locomotor activity tests showed that FCP possesses sedative effect (p < 0.05). Western blot data indicate that FCP significantly up-regulated GABA-A and GAD 65 in the brains of chronic epileptic rats (p < 0.05).Conclusion: FCP has significant anticonvulsant and sedative effects, and the mechanism of its action may be related to the up-regulation of GABA-A and GAD 65 in mice brain.Keywords: Epilepsy, Fufang Changniu pills, Anticonvulsant, Sedative effect, Gamma-aminobutyric acid, Glutamate dehydrogenase

Highlights

Epilepsy is a common chronic neurological disorder worldwide, and it affects almost 50 million people according to the World Health Organization [1]
Fufang Changniu Pills (FCP) is a commonly used Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) formula which consists of Acori Tatarinowii Rhizoma, Pharbitidis Semen, Cinnamomi Ramulus, Polygalae Radix, Uncariae Ramulus Cum Uncis, and Glycyrrhizae Radix Et Rhizoma (Table 1)
All the mice were observed within 30 min, and the complete abolition of hind limb tonic extension (HLTE) was defined as anticonvulsant effect against maximal electroshock (MES)-induced seizures

Summary

Introduction

Epilepsy is a common chronic neurological disorder worldwide, and it affects almost 50 million people according to the World Health Organization [1]. Fufang Changniu Pills (FCP) is a commonly used TCM formula which consists of Acori Tatarinowii Rhizoma, Pharbitidis Semen, Cinnamomi Ramulus, Polygalae Radix, Uncariae Ramulus Cum Uncis, and Glycyrrhizae Radix Et Rhizoma (Table 1). All the mice were observed within 30 min, and the complete abolition of HLTE was defined as anticonvulsant effect against MES-induced seizures.

Results

Conclusion