title: Neuroprotective effects of flavonoids extracted from licorice on kainate-induced seizure in mice through their antioxidant properties.
abstract: A relationship between status epilepticus (SE) and oxidative stress has recently begun to be recognized. To explore whether the flavonoids extracted from licorice (LFs) have any protective effect on kainate (KA)-induced seizure in mice, we treated mice with LFs before and after KA injection. In KA-treated mice, we found that superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity decreased immediately after the onset of seizure at 1 h and then increased at 6 h. It returned to baseline 1 d after seizure and then increased again at 3, 7, and 28 d, while malondialdehyde (MDA) content remained at a high level at 1 h, 6 h, 3 d, 7 d, and 28 d, indicating a more oxidized status related to the presence of more reactive oxygen species (ROS). Treatment with LFs before KA injection reversed the seizure-induced change in SOD activity and MDA content at 1 h, 6 h, 3 d, 7 d, and 28 d. Treatment with LFs after seizure decreased KA-induced SOD activity and MDA content at 7 and 28 d. Also, LF pre- and post-KA treatments decreased seizure-induced neuronal cell death. Subsequently, Morris water maze tests revealed that the escape latency was significantly decreased and the number of target quadrant crossings was markedly increased in the LF-treated groups. Thus, our data indicate that LFs have protective effects on seizure-induced neuronal cell death and cognitive impairment through their anti-oxidative effects.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy, Zhejiang University City College, Hangzhou 310015, China; Zhejiang Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Hangzhou 310051, China; Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China.
authors.forename: Ling-hui
authors.initials: LH
authors.lastname: Zeng
authors.forename: Hua-dan
authors.initials: HD
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Cai-ju
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Yu-jia
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Bian
authors.forename: Xue-jiao
authors.initials: XJ
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Qiang-min
authors.initials: QM
authors.lastname: Xie
authors.forename: Rong-hua
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Zhang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000494:pharmacology*; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000517:prevention & control; D005419:Flavonoids / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006035:Glycyrrhiza / Q000737:chemistry*; D007608:Kainic Acid / Q000633:toxicity*; D008297:Male; D008315:Malondialdehyde / Q000032:analysis; D051379:Mice; D008813:Mice, Inbred ICR; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018384:Oxidative Stress; D013226:Status Epilepticus / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000517:prevention & control*; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D005419:Flavonoids; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; D008315:Malondialdehyde; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase; D007608:Kainic Acid