Buyanghuanwu decoction inhibited TLR4-induced activation of nuclear factor-kappa B in acute carbon monoxide poisoning rats

Acute carbon monoxide poisoning (ACMP) is one of the most common types of poisoning worldwide, and may result in delayed encephalopathy, however, its pathogenesis remains obscure and there is no optimal treatment strategy for the patients with ACMP. Here, we developed the ACMP rat model to observe the protective effects of Buyanghuanwu decoction (BYHWD) on hippocampal neuron. BYHWD (per 5 g/kg) were intragastric administration to rats twice each day for 28 days after ACMP. In ACMP + BYHWD group rats, the neuronal injury in the hippocampal region was significantly less than that of ACMP group’s. BYHWD of intragastric administration also markedly decreased the expression of the TLR4, MyD88, NF-κB P65 after acute carbon monoxide poisoning (P<0.05). TNF-α、IL-1β protein level in ACMP + BYHWD group was lower than that of ACMP group (P<0.05). Our results suggested that decreased the activation of TLR4- NF-κB signal pathway due to BYHWD may partially account for its effect of neuroprotection standing against ACMP, and inhibited the inflammatory reaction to promote the ability recovery of learning and memory in ACMP rats.