Wattakaka volubilis (L.f) (Stapf.) is well known for its rich
steroid pregnane contents and this plant is known for its potential use as alternative
biological activities. However, little is known about its
neuroprotective effect in
ischemia-reperfusion (I/R)-induced cerebral injury. Hence, the present study was carried out to investigate the effect of W. volubilis(L.f) (Stapf.) sapogenin
glycosides mixture (WVSM) and polyhydroxy
pregnane glycoside (PPG) isolated from it on neuroprotection and the potential mechanisms in the rat I/R model induced by
middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO). The rats were pretreated with WVSM (50 mg/kg) and PPG (5 mg/kg and 10 mg/kg) (p.o.) once a day for 5 days before MCAO. Neurological deficit score (
NDS), rotarod performance, brain water content,
2,3,5-triphenyltetrazolium chloride (TTC) staining and indices of oxidative stress [
superoxide dismutase (SOD),
malondialdehyde (MDA),
nitric oxide (NO) and
nitric oxide synthase (NOS)] were measured at 24 h after
ischemia. The results indicated that pretreatment with WVSM and
PPG (10 mg/kg) significantly diminished the volume of
infarction and brain water content, and improved
NDS. Moreover, WVSM and
PPG (10 mg/kg) markedly reversed the level of MDA, NO, NOS and SOD to their normal state in serum or cerebral ischemic section. These findings demonstrate that WVSM and
PPG (10 mg/kg) exhibit
neuroprotective effect through its anti-oxidative action in MCAO rats.