OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of Niuhuang Qingxin Powders (NQP) on convulsive behavior induced by hyperthermia in prepubertal rats.

MATERIALS AND METHOD: 32 Sprague-Dawley rats were assigned to 4 groups (n=8), saline control, diazepam group(2.632 mg/kg), three incremental doses of NQP groups including low-(0.3 g/kg ), moderate-(4 g/kg) and high dosage-(8 g/kg). Half an hour after administration of saline, diazepam and NQP by gavage, rats were placed in a glass container, and hyperthermia was induced by using a regulated stream of hot water (45°C). Then onset latency, duration and level of hyperthermia induced seizure of each rat were assessed.

RESULTS: Compared with saline control, administration of diazepam and all three doses of NQP significantly increased length of seizure latency (p<0.05). And administration of diazepam and high doses of NQP also decreased seizure duration significantly compared with saline control (p<0.05), while low and moderate dosage NQP groups failed to decrease seizure duration significantly. Moreover, administration of diazepam and high-dose NQP decreased the average seizure level compared with saline control (p<0.05), while low and moderate dosage NQP groups failed to decrease the seizure level significantly.

CONCLUSION: High-dose NQP exhibits a protective function on rats with hyperthermia induced seizure.