PUBLICATION

In Silico Analysis, Anticonvulsant Activity, and Toxicity Evaluation of Schisandrin B in Zebrafish Larvae and Mice

Authors

Nieoczym, D., Banono, N.S., St?pnik, K., Kaczor, A.A., Szybkowski, P., Esguerra, C.V., Kukula-Koch, W., Gawel, K.

ID

ZDB-PUB-230827-57

Date

2023

Source

International Journal of Molecular Sciences 24(16): (Journal)

Registered Authors

Banono, Nancy, Esguerra, Camila V., Gawel, Kinga Aurelia

Keywords

local field potential recordings, mice, molecular modeling, pentylenetetrazole, schisandrin B, seizures, toxicity, zebrafish

MeSH Terms

Mice
Pentylenetetrazole/toxicity
Zebrafish*
Larva
Anticonvulsants*/toxicity
Receptors, GABA-A
Seizures/chemically induced
Seizures/drug therapy
Animals
Glutamic Acid
Molecular Docking Simulation

PubMed

37629132 Full text @ Int. J. Mol. Sci.

Abstract

The aim of this study is to evaluate the anticonvulsant potential of schisandrin B, a main ingredient of Schisandra chinensis extracts. Schisandrin B showed anticonvulsant activity in the zebrafish larva pentylenetetrazole acute seizure assay but did not alter seizure thresholds in the intravenous pentylenetetrazole test in mice. Schisandrin B crosses the blood-brain barrier, which we confirmed in our in silico and in vivo analyses; however, the low level of its unbound fraction in the mouse brain tissue may explain the observed lack of anticonvulsant activity. Molecular docking revealed that the anticonvulsant activity of the compound in larval zebrafish might have been due to its binding to a benzodiazepine site within the GABA_A receptor and/or the inhibition of the glutamate NMDA receptor. Although schisandrin B showed a beneficial anticonvulsant effect, toxicological studies revealed that it caused serious developmental impairment in zebrafish larvae, underscoring its teratogenic properties. Further detailed studies are needed to precisely identify the properties, pharmacological effects, and safety of schisandrin B.

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