Roles and mechanisms of traditional Chinese medicine and its active ingredients in treating epilepsy / 中国中药杂志

ABSTRACT

At present,Western medicine is widely used in the treatment of epilepsy.However,about 30%-40% of epileptic patients are resistant to them and are affected by the side effects of these drugs.Traditional Chinese medicine is effective in treating epileptic seizures and relieving complications caused by Western medicine.However,the active ingredients and mechanisms of traditional Chinese medicine remain unclear.This article reviews and summarizes the advances and mechanisms in treating epilepsy,such as Chinese medicine monomer,the extracts of single Chinese medicine and Chinese medicine compound.Chinese medicine monomers,including gastrodin,asarone,rhynchophylline,ligustrazine,tanshinone ⅡA,curcumin,etc.,have antiepileptic effects via regulating excitatory neurotransmitters and receptors,the expression of inflammatory factors,sodium/potassium ion channels and the expression of apoptotic protein,therefore protecting neurons.The extracts of single Chinese herbal including the extracts of Gastrodiae Rhizoma,Acori Tatarinowii Rhizoma,Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma,Ganoderma,Scutellariae Radix and Ginkgo Folium,etc.,have antiepileptic effects related to the inhibition of γ-aminobutyric acid receptor,upregulation of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase signaling pathway and reduction of glutamate-induced excitotoxicity and oxidative stress response.Furthermore,these extracts can regulate ion channels and reduce oxidative damage of neurons.Chinese medicine compounds including Dianxian Qing Granules,Danxing Ningxian Granules,Huoxue Dingxian formulae,etc.,can improve the therapeutic effect on epilepsy through simultaneously regulating excitatory transmitters,apoptosis factors and cytokines.