Objective:To investigate the clinical efficacy of Chaihu Shugan Tang combined with Guipitang in the treatment of intractable epilepsy (IE) of liver stagnation and spleen deficiency syndrome

and explore its effect on expression levels of oxygen free radicals

P-glycoprotein (P-gp)

and insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1). Method:The 60 patients complying with IE diagnosis standard of liver stagnation and spleen deficiency syndrome were randomly divided into control group and experimental group according to random number table

with 30 cases in each group. The patients in control group received routine treatment

while the patients in experimental group additionally received Chaihu Shugan Tang combined with Guipitang treatment on the basis of routine treatment. After continuous treatment for 3 months

video electroencephalogram (EEG) was observed

epileptic seizure frequency

seizure duration

Quality of Life in Epilepsy-31 (QOLIE-31) were recorded before and after treatment; serum total superoxide dismutase (SOD)

malondialdehyde (MDA)

P-gp

and IGF-1 levels were detected before and after treatment; the number of epileptic seizures

seizure duration

scores of QOLIE-31

as well as the changes in SOD

MDA

P-gp and IGF-1 levels were calculated. Result:the frequency of seizures in experimental group after treatment was lower than that of control group (P<0.05)

the duration was significantly lower than that in control group (P<0.01); the number of epileptiform discharges was less than that of control group (P<0.05); QOLIE-31 scores were significantly higher than those in control group (P<0.01); the level of SOD was significantly higher than that in the control group (P<0.01)

while MDA and P-gp levels were significantly lower than those of control group (P<0.01)

and IGF-1 level was lower than that in control group (P<0.05). As compared with the changes in control group

the decrease degree of seizure frequency was more obvious in experimental group (P<0.05); the decrease degree of seizure duration was significant (P<0.01); the increase in QOLIE-31 scores was more obvious (P<0.05); the increase in SOD and decrease in P-gp were significant (P<0.01); and the decrease in MDA and IGF-1 was more obvious in experimental group (P<0.05). Conclusion:Chaihu Shugan Tang combined with Guipitang in the treatment of IE patients with liver stagnation and spleen deficiency can reduce the seizure frequency and the duration of seizures

epileptiform discharge

improve the quality of life for patients

and the mechanism may be related to scavenging oxygen free radicals

improving the sensitivity of antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) and reducing the damages to the brain.