Objective:To investigate the mechanism involved in anticonvulsant effect of gentianine in rats with recurrent febrile seizures. Method:Sixty SD rats were randomly divided into the healthy control group

model group

gentianine high-dose (200 mg·kg-1) group

gentianine low-dose (50 mg·kg-1) group (n=15

each). Except the health control group

all rats were induced high fever seizures according to the reference method. The rats were induced convulsion every other day

totally 10 times in 20 d. When convulsion happened

gentianine was injected (ip) immediately in the gentianine high-dose group and the low-dose group. In model group and health control group

the rats were given the same volume of normal saline. Convulsion latency and convulsion duration; serum IL-1

IL-6

IL-8 and TNF-α

IFN-α levels; brain homogenate cAMP and PGE2 level were investigated for the rats. Result:In gentianine groups

convulsions incubation period was significantly longer than that in the model group (P<0.05); convulsion duration was significantly less than that in the model group (P<0.01). In model group

IL-1

IL-6

IL-8

TNF-α and PGE2 levels were significantly higher than those in the control group and gentianine groups (P<0.05). In gentianine high-dose group

IL-1

IL-6

IL-8

TNF-α and PGE2 levels were significantly lower than those in gentianine low-dose group (P<0.05). Conclusion:Gentianine has antipyretic and anticonvulsant effect

which has relationship with cytokines affecting the hypothalamic PGE2 levels.