Protective Effect of Songling Xuemaikang Capsules, Alone and in Combination with Carbamazepine, on Lithium Chloride– Pilocarpine-induced Epilepsy in Rats

ABSTRACT

Background: Epilepsy becomes a prevalent drug-resistant neurological condition, often regarding cognitive impairment. As a traditional Chinese patent medicine, Songling Xuemaikang capsules (SXC) mainly contain Pueraria lobata and pine needles, clinically used to treat epilepsy and alleviate cognitive impairment. Objectives: Our research served to explore the suppressive effect of SXC, alone or combined with carbamazepine (CBZ), on lithium chloride–pilocarpine-inducing epileptic seizures among rats, as well as its potential to alleviate cognitive impairment. Materials and Methods: A rat model of epilepsy was formulated by injecting 3 mmol/kg lithium chloride, 1 mg/kg atropine, and 30 mg/kg pilocarpine hydrochloride. The rats were separated stochastically into five groups (n = 14): saline (sham), model, CBZ, SXC, and CBZ–SXC combination groups. The experimental groups took oral CBZ (80 mg/kg/day), SXC (600 mg/kg/day), or a combination of CBZ (80 mg/kg/day), and SXC (600 mg/kg/day) orally for 60 days. Epileptic seizures, neuronal loss, cognitive disorder, and the level of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K), protein kinase B (Akt), nuclear factor kappa-B (NF-κB) p65, and P-glycoprotein (P-gp) were evaluated among the rats. Results: The combination treatment with SXC and CBZ remarkably lessened the severity and frequency of seizures (p < .01) while mitigating cognitive impairment (p < .05). In the model group, neuronal damage observed was apparently improved (p < .05). The expressions of PI3K and Akt were upregulated (p < .01), whereas the levels of NF-κB p65 and P-gp were prominently suppressed (p < .01) in the combination therapy group. Conclusion: SXC is an effective adjunct therapy for treating drug-resistant epilepsy. The mechanism of action might involve upregulating PI3K and Akt, and suppressing NF-κB p65 and P-gp.

KEYWORDS

• Songling Xuemaikang capsules
• drug-resistant epilepsy
• traditional Chinese patent medicines
• PI3K/Akt/NF-κB signaling path- way
• hippocampal region

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• DOI10.1177/09731296251323009Copy

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