Our previous studies have shown that Uncaria rhynchophylla (UR) can reduce epileptic
seizures. We hypothesized that UR and its major component
rhynchophylline (RH), reduce epileptic
seizures in rats treated with
kainic acid (KA) by inhibiting
nuclear factor-kappaB (
NF-kappaB) and activator-protein-1 (AP-1) activity, and by eliminating
superoxide anions. Therefore, the level of
superoxide anions and the
DNA binding activities of
NF-kappaB and
AP-1 were measured. Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were pre-treated with UR (1.0 g/kg, i.p.), RH (0.25 mg/kg, i.p.), or
valproic acid (VA, 250 mg/kg, i.p.) for 3 days and then KA was administered intra-peritoneal (i.p.). The results indicated that UR, RH, and VA can reduce epileptic
seizures and the level of
superoxide anions in the blood. Furthermore, KA was demonstrated to induce the
DNA binding activities of
NF-kappaB and
AP-1. However, these inductions were inhibited by pre-treatment with UR, RH, or VA for 3 days. Moreover, UR and RH were shown to be involved in the suppression of
c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) phosphorylation. This study suggested that UR and RH have
antiepileptic effects in KA-induced
seizures and are associated with the regulation of the innate immune system via a reduction in the level of
superoxide anions, JNK phosphorylation, and
NF-kappaB activation.