Salidroside Attenuates Epilepsy and Cognitive Dysfunction in Rats by Downregulating Complement C3-C3aR Pathway-Mediated Activation of Microglia and Astrocytes

Epilepsy is a chronic neurological disorder featured by abnormal neural discharges that can lead to cognitive impairment. Salidroside (Sal), a biologically active component, protects neurons against various insults. The current study aims to explore the therapeutic potential of Sal in epilepsy and elucidate the mechanisms underlying its effects. We established a rat model of status epilepticus (SE) using pentylenetetrazol-kindling. SE rats were treated with Sal. Assessment of seizure latency and epileptic stage scores were performed. Cognitive function of rats was evaluated using a novel object recognition test and a Morris water maze test. Neuronal damage and hippocampal pathology were examined, alongside microglial and astrocyte activation, complement C3-C3a receptor (C3-C3aR) pathway involvement, and inflammatory factor levels. Sal prolonged seizure latency, decreased epilepsy stage scores, and improved cognitive performance compared to untreated SE rats. Furthermore, Sal suppressed the activation of C3-C3ar, microglia, and astrocytes, while decreasing the levels of inflammatory factors, which ameliorated hippocampal damage and neuronal loss. Sal may attenuate epilepsy and cognitive dysfunction by downregulating complement C3-C3aR pathway-mediated activation of microglia and astrocytes.