PROTECTIVE EFFECTS OF PEONY ROOT EXTRACT AND ITS COMPONENTS ON NEURONDAMAGE IN THE HIPPOCAMPUS INDUCED BY THE COBALT FOCUS EPILEPSY MODEL

Protective effects of peony root extract and its components on neuron damage in the CA1 area of the hippocampus induced by the cobalt focus epilepsy model were examined. Neuron damage in the CA1 area of the hip pocampus and frequent spike discharges induced by application of metal lic cobalt to the cerebral cortex of rats were completely prevented wh en peony root extract was continuously administered orally at 1 g/kg/d ay for 30 days prior to cobalt application. Component crude gallotanni n fraction showed marked but incomplete protective action. A combinati on of crude gallotannin fraction and paeoniflorin showed complete prot ective action in the same way as peony root extract against neuron dam age although use of paeoniflorin alone had no effect. These findings t ogether with our previous reports indicate that peony root ex-tract an d its component, gallotannin, have excellent protective effects on neu ron damage in addition to anticonvulsant action by prior oral administ ration. (C) 1997 Academic Press.