• Natural Product Sciences
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.40-45
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• 2017

Epilepsy is a brain disorder that affects millions of people worldwide. It is characterized by recurrent and unpredictable seizures that are usually controlled with antiepileptic/anticonvulsive drugs. However, most antiepileptic drugs produce various side effects such as tolerance and sedation. Thus, there is a growing interest for alternative anticonvulsive drugs, preferably from natural or herbal sources. In this study, we evaluated the anticonvulsive effects of Rehmannia glutinosa (RG). The anticonvulsive effect of RG extract was evaluated using electroshock- and chemical-induced seizure tests in mice. To identify its probable mechanism of action, the effects of RG extract on $Cl^-$ influx was measured in vitro. We found that RG extract has anticonvulsive effects against electroshock-induced seizures, as indicated by an increased seizure threshold in mice. The RG extract also decreased the percentage of seizure responses induced by the GABAergic antagonist, pentylenetetrazole. These results suggest that the anticonvulsive effects of RG extract are mediated through a GABAergic mechanism. In support of this mechanism, our in vitro test showed that RG extract increases intracellular $Cl^-$ influx. Furthermore, RG extract did not show sedative and/or muscle relaxant effects in the open-field and rota-rod tests. Altogether, these results confirm that RG extract could be a herbal anticonvulsant and a potential alternative for clinical use.

• Tribology and Lubricants
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• v.23 no.5
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• pp.195-200
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• 2007

This paper presents the friction induced scuffing and wear defects analysis of a pin bushing bearing based on the chemical composition using a scanning microscopy (SEM) and an energy dispersive X-ray analyzer (EDX). The SEM/EDX system, which may provide good information on the surface thermal defects and chemical compositions, provides impurities such as an aluminum, a silicon, a ferrous component and an oxygen, especially. The EDX measured results show that the oxygen may reduce the strength and a hardness of a pin busing, which may lead to a scuffing and a seizure on the rubbing contact surface. The current technology fabricated by a sintering for a pin bushing bearing should be modified or changed to reduce the oxygen composition and the impurities in pin bushing materials.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.342-347
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• 2011

In the present study, the anticonvulsant effects of Artemisia capillaris Herba (AC) and its major constituent, esculetin (ECT), were tested and the mechanism studied. Locomotion, Myorelaxation, motor coordination and electroshock seizure experiment were conducted in mice. To identify the anticonvulsant mechanism effect of this drug, chemical-induced seizure in mice and the ionic movement in neuroblastoma cells were also observed. The ethanol extract of AC was orally administered to mice 30 min. prior to testing and ECT was intraperitoneally injected. AC and ECT treatment did not change locomotor activities as well as activities on the rota-rod, which indicates that they did not cause a sedative and myorelaxation effect. AC and ECT treatment increased threshold of convulsion induced by electroshock. AC treatment also inhibited convulsion induced by pentylenetetrazole. In the case of strychnine however, only high dose of AC treatment inhibited convulsion. AC and ECT treatment increased the $Cl^-$ influx into the intracellular area in a dose-dependent manner. On the other hand, bicuculline, a GABA antagonist, inhibited the $Cl^-$ influx induced by AC and ECT. These results indicate that ECT induces the anticonvulsive effect of AC extract through the GABAergic neuron.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.7 no.3
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• pp.271-277
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• 1999

Safety evaluation of LB71350, a new HIV-1 protease inhibitor, was performed in mice, rats and dogs. For the general behavior of mice, LB71350 at an oral dose of 200 mg/kg did not show any significant effects on muscle tone and locomotor activity. In terms of central nervous system, at oral doses of 200 mg/kg and 1000 mg/kg, LB71350 inhibited acetic acid-induced pain response approximately 41% and 83% of control. respectively. At oral doses of 200 mg/kg and 500 mg/kg, it reduced the rectal body temperature in rats. Pentylenetetrazole-induced seizure in mice was slightly potentiated by oral administration of LB71350 at doses ranging from 200 mg/kg to 1000 mg/Ag. Single or five day treatment of LB71350 doubled the hexobarbital- induced sleeping time in mice at oral doses ranging from 50 mg/kg to 500 mg/kg. It did not cause any effects on gastric secretion and acidity in rat at oral doses of 200 mg/kg and 1000 mg/kg and also it did not change intestinal motility in mice up to 1000 mg/kg. Blood coagulation indices such as prothrombin time (PT), activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT), and thrombin time (TT) in rats were not affected by the treatment of LB71350 up to 500 mg/kg. LB71350 caused no significant effects on the cardiac output, stroke volume, heart rate, and mean blood pressure when infused intravenously to the anesthetized rats and dogs. Taken together, LB71350 at high oral doses caused significant pharmacological effects on the central nervous system and the hexobarbital-induced sleeping time.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.26 no.11
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• pp.1757-1760
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• 2005

A series of 6-alkyloxyl-3,4-dihydro-2(1H)-quinoliones (5a-5n) were synthesized through nitration, reduction, diazotization, hydrolysis and alkylation from 3,4-dihydro-2(1H)-quinolione. Their structures were characterized by IR, $^1H$-NMR and MS. The anticonvulsant activity was evaluated by the Maximal electroshock test (MES) and the subcutaneous pentylenetetrazole (Metrazole) test (sc-Met). The neurotoxicity was measured by the Rotarod test (Tox). The result showed that 6-hexyloxy-3,4-dihydro-2 (1H)-quinolinone (5c) was potent in anti-MES and anti-scMet test with $ED_{50}$ of 24.0 mg/kg and 21.2 mg/kg, respectively, albeit its $TD_{50}$ (67.6 mg/kg) revealed the high neurotoxicity. 6-Benzyloxy-3,4-dihydro-2(1H)-quinolinone (5f) was less effective against MES induced seizure with $ED_{50}$ of 29.6 mg/kg, but no neurotoxicity was observed even under 300 mg/kg. Its Protective index (PI) was greater than 10 preferable to Phenytoin, Carbamazepin, Phenobarbital and Valproate.