Lu Tong Ke Li protects neurons from injury by regulating inflammation in rats with brain trauma

Currently, there is no effective therapy for traumatic brain injury (TBI). Therefore, this study was conducted to determine the protective effect of Lu Tong Ke Li (LTKL), a Chinese medicine, for TBI in experimental animals. The TBI rat model was induced using the modified Feeney's protocol. The rats were divided into four groups: Sham group, Control group, LTKL  lower-dose group (LTL, 2 g/kg/day, p.o.), and LTKL higher-dose group (LTH, 4 g/kg/day, p.o.). The Neurological Severity Score (NSS) was used to examine neurological function. Magnetic resonance imaging was performed to check the brain tissue lesions in rats. Cell apoptosis in the damaged area was evaluated using the Terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase deoxy-UTP-nick end labeling assay. Reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction was used to investigate the expression of inflammatory cytokines, including tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin 1β (IL-1β), and interleukin 10 (IL-10). The TBI rat model was successfully constructed. Neurological function was enhanced at 14, 21, and 28 days post TBI in the LTH groups, indicated by gradually decreased NSS scores. Administration of LTH led to fewer brain defects in the damaged area, and the number of apoptosis cells in the brain injury area markedly decreased. LTKL treatment led to upregulation of IL-10 expression and downregulation of TNF-α and IL-1β expressions at the molecular level. LTKL can improve the neurobehavior of TBI. The neuroprotective effect was probably related to regulation of inflammation cytokines. Our results provide crucial evidence of the potentially useful application of LTKL in the therapy of TBI in clinic practice in the future.