Oxidative stress results from an
oxidant/
antioxidant imbalance, an excess of
oxidants, and/or a depletion of
antioxidants. A considerable body of recent evidence suggests that oxidative stress and exaggerated production of
reactive oxygen species play a major role in several aspects
ischemia and reperfusion. Hypericum perforatum is a medicinal plant species containing many polyphenolic compounds, namely
flavonoids and phenolic
acids. Because polyphenolic compounds have high
antioxidant potential, in this study we evaluated the effect of H. perforatum extract on splanchnic artery occlusion (SAO)
shock-mediated injury. SAO
shock was induced in rats by clamping the superior mesenteric artery and the celiac trunk for 45 min. After 1 h of reperfusion, SAO-shocked rats developed a significant fall in mean arterial blood pressure. Treatment of rats with H. perforatum extract (applied at 25 mg/kg 15 min before reperfusion) significantly reduced a significant fall in mean arterial blood pressure and the migration of polymorphonuclear cells caused by SAO-
shock. H. perforatum extract also attenuated the ileum injury (histology) as well as the increase in the tissue levels of
myeloperoxidase and
malondialdehyde caused by SAO
shock in the ileum. Immunohistochemical analysis for
nitrotyrosine and for
poly ADP-ribosylated proteins revealed a positive staining in ileum from SAO-shocked rats. The degree of staining for
nitrotyrosine and
poly ADP-ribosylated proteins was markedly reduced in tissue sections obtained from SAO-shocked rats that had received H. perforatum extract. Reperfused ileum tissue sections from SAO-shocked rats showed positive staining for
P-selectin and for
intercellular adhesion molecule-1 in the vascular endothelial cells. H. perforatum extract treatment markedly reduced the intensity and degree of
P-selectin and
intercellular adhesion molecule-1 in tissue section from SAO-shocked rats. H. perforatum extract treatment significantly improved survival. In conclusion, this study demonstrates that H. perforatum extract exerts multiple protective effects in splanchnic artery occlusion-reperfusion
shock and suggests that H. perforatum extract may be a candidate for consideration as a therapeutic intervention for
ischemia-reperfusion injury.