Title:Notopterygium incisum Root Extract (NRE) Alleviates Epileptiform
Symptoms in PTZ-Induced Acute Seizure Mice
Volume: 22
Issue: 5
Author(s): Lijun Zhou, Yaping Gao, Hongyuan Lu, Wenwu Liu, Xiangbo Xu, Bo Xing, Xu Liang, Nan Wang, Xiaowen Jiang*Qingchun Zhao*
Affiliation:
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Shenyang 110016, People’s Republic of
China
- Department of Pharmacy, General Hospital of Northern Theater Command, Shenyang, People’s Republic of
China
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Shenyang 110016, People’s Republic of
China
- Department of Pharmacy, General Hospital of Northern Theater Command, Shenyang, People’s Republic of
China
Keywords:
Epilepsy, Notopterygium incisum, oxidative status, neuroinflammation, PTZ, Immunohistochemistry (IHC).
Abstract:
Background: Epilepsy is a common neurological disorder affecting more than 70 million
people worldwide. Despite numerous efforts on new antiepileptic drugs, approximately one-third of
epilepsy patients suffer from uncontrolled seizures. It leads to serious psychosocial consequences,
cognitive problems, and decreased quality of life.
Objective: Our previous studies have shown that N. incisum root extract (NRE) can improve cognitive
dysfunction in Alzheimer's disease (AD) mice. In addition, our research shows that AD and epilepsy
have pathological mechanisms overlapping. Therefore, we tried to investigate whether NRE can ameliorate
the seizures of epileptic mice in this study.
Methods: NRE-treated mice group was given an oral administration with 1 g/kg/d for 7 days. On the
8th day, mice were exposed to PTZ (i.p. injection) to induce epilepsy. Then the cognitive tests of mice
in the water maze were carried out, and the biochemical indexes and pathological tests were carried
out after the mice were sacrificed.
Results: SOD level in the NRE group was significantly higher than that in the PTZ group, while
MDA, TNF-α, and IL-1β levels were decreased. The cognitive ability of NRE-treated mice was significantly
improved compared with the PTZ group. Immunohistochemistry (IHC) results showed that the
activation of microglia and astrocytes in the hippocampus and cortex of NRE mice were inhibited.
Conclusion: This study suggests that NRE can alleviate epilepsy and improve cognitive function in
mice with epilepsy, and its mechanism may be through reducing inflammation and enhancing antioxidant
defense.
