Uncaria rhynchophylla and rhynchophylline improved kainic acid-induced epileptic seizures via IL-1β and brain-derived neurotrophic factor.

Abstract

Uncaria rhynchophylla (UR) has been used for the treatment of convulsions and epilepsy in traditional Chinese medicine. This study reported the major anti-convulsive signaling pathways and effective targets of UR and rhynchophylline (RP) using genomic and immunohistochemical studies. Epileptic seizure model was established by intraperitoneal injection of kainic acid (KA) in rats. Electroencephalogram and electromyogram recordings indicated that UR and RP improved KA-induced epileptic seizures. Toll-like receptor (TLR) and neurotrophin signaling pathways were regulated by UR in both cortex and hippocampus of KA-treated rats. KA upregulated the expression levels of interleukin-1β (IL-1β) and brain-derived neurotrophin factor (BDNF), which were involved in TLR and neurotrophin signaling pathways, respectively. However, UR and RP downregulated the KA-induced IL-1β and BDNF gene expressions. Our findings suggested that UR and RP exhibited anti-convulsive effects in KA-induced rats via the regulation of TLR and neurotrophin signaling pathways, and the subsequent inhibition of IL-1β and BDNF gene expressions.

• Authors: Tin-Yun Ho, Nou-Ying Tang, Chien-Yun Hsiang, Ching-Liang Hsieh
• Journal: Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology (Phytomedicine) Vol. 21 Issue 6 Pg. 893-900 (May 15 2014) ISSN: 1618-095X [Electronic] Germany
• PMID: 24636743 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
• Copyright: Copyright © 2014 Elsevier GmbH. All rights reserved.

Chemical References

• Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor
• Indole Alkaloids
• Interleukin-1beta
• Oxindoles
• Plant Extracts
• Toll-Like Receptors
• rhyncophylline
• Kainic Acid

Topics

• Animals
• Brain (drug effects, metabolism)
• Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (metabolism)
• Epilepsy (chemically induced, drug therapy, metabolism)
• Gene Expression (drug effects)
• Indole Alkaloids (pharmacology, therapeutic use)
• Interleukin-1beta (metabolism)
• Kainic Acid
• Male
• Oxindoles
• Phytotherapy
• Plant Extracts (pharmacology, therapeutic use)
• Rats, Sprague-Dawley
• Toll-Like Receptors (metabolism)
• Uncaria (chemistry)