Ethnopharmacological relevance: Alcohol misuse persists as a prevalent societal concern and precipitates diverse deleterious consequences, entailing significant associated health hazards including acute alcohol intoxication (AAI). Binge drinking, a commonplace pattern of alcohol consumption, may incite neurodegeneration and neuronal dysfunction. Clinicians tasked with managing acute alcohol intoxication confront a dearth of pharmaceutical intervention alternatives. In contrast, natural products have garnered interest due to their compatibility with the human body and fewer side effects. Ling Jiao Gou Teng Tang (LGD), a classical traditional Chinese medicine decoction, represents a frequently employed prescription in cases of encephalopathy, although its efficacy in addressing acute alcoholism and alcohol-induced brain injury remains inadequately investigated.
Aim of the study: To investigate the conceivable therapeutic benefits of Ling Jiao Gou Teng Tang in acute alcohol intoxication and alcohol-induced brain injury, while delving into the underlying fundamental mechanisms involved.
Materials and methods: We established an acute alcohol intoxication mouse model through alcohol gavage, and Ling Jiao Gou Teng Tang was administered to the mice twice at the 2 h preceding and 30 min subsequent to alcohol exposure. The study encompassed the utilization of the loss of righting reflex assay, histopathological analysis, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays, and cerebral tissue biochemical assays to investigate the impact of Ling Jiao Gou Teng Tang on acute alcohol intoxication and alcohol-induced brain injury.
These assessments included a comprehensive evaluation of various biomarkers associated with the inflammatory response and oxidative stress. Finally, RT-qPCR, Western blot, and immunofluorescence staining were carried out to explore the underlying mechanisms through which Ling Jiao Gou Teng Tang exerts its therapeutic influence, potentially through the regulation of the RhoA/ROCK2/NF-κB signaling pathway.
Results: Our investigation underscores the therapeutic efficacy of Ling Jiao Gou Teng Tang in ameliorating AAI, as evidenced by discernible alterations in the loss of righting reflex assay, pathological analysis, and assessment of inflammatory and oxidative stress biomarkers. Furthermore, the results of RT-qPCR, Western blot, and immunofluorescence staining manifest a noteworthy regulatory effect of Ling Jiao Gou Teng Tang on the RhoA/ROCK2/NF-κB signaling pathway.
Conclusions: The present study confirmed the therapeutic potential of Ling Jiao Gou Teng Tang in acute alcohol intoxication and alcohol-induced brain injury, and the protective effects of Ling Jiao Gou Teng Tang against alcohol-induced brain injury may be intricately linked to the RhoA/ROCK2/NF-κB signaling pathway.
Reference: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38552993/