cinnabar

Cinnabar, also known as mercury(II) sulfide, is a traditional Chinese medicine being investigated for its therapeutic potential in neurological disorders, particularly epilepsy. Preclinical studies in mice have shown that cinnabar exhibits model-dependent antiseizure efficacy. Its mechanism of action involves normalizing kainic acid (KA)-induced hippocampal neurotransmission imbalances by simultaneously decreasing glutamate hyperactivity and enhancing γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) activity. Additionally, cinnabar has demonstrated neuroprotective effects and can alleviate comorbid anxiety-like behaviors without affecting motor function. These findings suggest its potential as a therapeutic agent for seizure management by reversing hippocampal excitatory/inhibitory imbalance.

Other names

mercury(II) sulfide