Analgesic, anti-inflammatory and sedative/hypnotic effects of Icaritin, and its effect on chloride influx in mouse brain cortical cells

Abstract

Inflammation and insomnia are medical problems that may severely affect work and health, thereby necessitating strategies for their effective treatment. Icartin (ICT) is a major active monomeric component of icariin. Studies have revealed that ICT possesses several pharmacological properties such anti-inflammatory, anti-tumor, anti-fibrotic, anti-osteoporotic and neuroprotective effects. The present research was carried out to investigate the anti-inflammatory, analgesic and sedative/hypnotic effects of ICT. The results obtained revealed that ICT exerted a good anti-inflammatory effect related to the downregulations of inflammatory cytokines and the inhibition of COX-2 signaling pathway. Moreover, ICT enhanced Cl- influx in mouse cortical cells in a concentration-dependent manner. These data suggest that ICT exerts a hypnotic effect in mice through a mechanism associated with increased Cl- influx in cortical cells.