Antiepileptic Potential of Matrine via Regulation the Levels of Gamma-Aminobutyric Acid and Glutamic Acid in the Brain

Abstract

Our present study aimed to determine the antiepileptic activity of matrine, and explore the possible molecular mechanism. To evaluate the antiepileptic activity of matrine, seizures in mice induced by PTZ and MES were established, then the pentobarbital sodium-induced anaesthetizing time and locomotor activity tests in mice were also carried out. For the molecular mechanism investigations, contents of aspartic acid (Asp), gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), glutamic acid (Glu), glycine (Gly) in seizures mice were determined; then, the chronic seizures rats induced by PTZ were prepared, and western blotting was used to determine the expressions of GAD 65, GABAA and GABAB in the brains. In the results, matrine showed significant antiepileptic effects on seizures mice induced by MES and PTZ. Moreover, the pentobarbital sodium-induced anaesthetizing time and locomotor activity tests were also demonstrated that matrine had obvious antiepileptic effects. Additionally, our results revealed that after treatment with matrine, contents of GABA can be elevated, and the contents of Glu were obviously decreased. Furthermore, western blotting revealed that the mechanism regarding the antiepileptic effect of may be related to the up-regulations of GAD 65 and GABAA in the brain. Collectively, we suggested that matrine can be developed as an effective antiseptic drug.

Garcinol Upregulates GABAA and GAD65 Expression, Modulates BDNF-TrkB Pathway to Reduce Seizures in Pentylenetetrazole (PTZ)-Induced Epilepsy

“…GABA is the chief inhibitory neurotransmitter, in contrast to Glu which is a key excitatory neurotransmitter and the imbalance of Glu/GABA in the brain is a critical factor in epileptogenesis [30,50]. In our study, pretreatment with garcinol at 50, 100 and 200 mg/kg doses resulted in raised GABA levels while significantly reducing Glu levels in the brains of PTZ kindled mice.…”

“…GAD65 and GABA A are chief regulators in the production of GABA [40,50]. In PTZ-induced epileptic rats, supressed expression of GAD65 and GABA A were observed (Figure 11).…”

Antiepileptic activity of total triterpenes isolated fromPoria cocosis mediated by suppression of aspartic and glutamic acids in the brain

“…GAD65 is an isoform of GAD and can inhibit sensitivity to epilepsy and improve neuropathological changes in epileptic mice (Awad et al 2009;Xiang & Jiang 2013). In addition, GABA A , which is the most important receptor for GABA, is thought to be an important target for new antiepileptic drug development (Enell et al 2007;Greenfield 2013).…”

Anticonvulsant and sedative effect of <i>Fufang Changniu</i> pills and probable mechanism of action in mice

“…The test of pentobarbital-induced sleeping time in mice was also carried out according to a previous report [11]. Mice were pretreated with FCP (50, 100 and 200 mg/kg, ig), diazepam (4 mg/kg, ip), and normal saline (20 mL/kg, ig).…”