Saikosaponin a (SSa), a main constituent of the Chinese herb Bupleurum chinense DC., has been demonstrated to have antiepileptic activity. Recent studies have shown that SSa could inhibit NMDA receptor current and persistent sodium current. However, the effects of SSa on potassium (K+) currents remain unclear. In this study, we tested the effect of SSa on 4AP-induced epileptiform discharges and K+ currents in CA1 neurons of rat hippocampal slices. We found that SSa significantly inhibited epileptiform discharges frequency and duration in hippocampal CA1 neurons in the 4AP seizure model in a dose-dependent manner with an IC 50 of 0.7 μM. SSa effectively increased the amplitude of I Total and I A, significantly negative-shifted the activation curve, and positive-shifted steady-state curve of I A. However, SSa induced no significant changes in the amplitude and activation curve of I K. In addition, SSa significantly increased the amplitude of 4AP-sensitive K+ current, while there was no significant change in the amplitude of TEA-sensitive K+ current. Together, our data indicate that SSa inhibits epileptiform discharges induced by 4AP in a dose-dependent manner and that SSa exerts selectively enhancing effects on I A. These increases in I A may contribute to the anticonvulsant mechanisms of SSa.

A facile approach is employed for the preparation of hierarchically porous structures monolithic ordered macroporous-mesoporous silica materials (OMS) using the commercially available and cheap polyurethane (PU) foam as monolithic template, triblock copolymer P123 (EO20PO70EO20) as structure-directing agent and tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS) as silica source, then monolithic ordered macro porous-mesoporous carbon materials (OMC) is synthesized by using monolithic ordered macroporous-mesoporous silica materials as hard template and ionic liquids as the carbon source. The silica and carbon monoliths possess uniform pore sizes (3.74-3.84 nm) and ordered mesostructure.

A new system for the controlled release of rose perfume is presented. Mesoporous SBA-15 and KIT-6 materials as controlled-release agent are synthesized via hydrothermal method. Rose perfume was introduced into the pores of SBA-15 and KIT-6 via the incipient wetness impregnation method. This silica reservoir maintained a slow release of rose perfume over more than 10h. Rose perfume release was controlled by configurational diffusion in the SBA-15 and KIT-6 pores having free diameters of less than 12 nm. The release of rose perfume was tuned by adapting pore diameter and temperature. By fitting the release data, the results show that the release actions of rose perfume in SBA-15 and KIT-6 are consistent with Korsmeyer-Peppas model and First-order’model respectively.