Neuroprotective effects of madecassoside against focal cerebral ischemia reperfusion injury in rats.

Abstract

Madecassoside, a triterpenoid derivative isolated from Centella asiatica, exhibits anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities. We investigated its neuroprotective effect against ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury in cerebral neurons in male Sprague-Dawley rats. Madecassoside (6, 12, or 24mg/kg, i.v.) was administered 1h after the start of reperfusion, and neurological deficit score and infarct volume were evaluated 24h later. Neuronal apoptosis was assessed by performing terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP-nick end labeling (TUNEL) staining, and pathological brain damage was estimated by performing hematoxylin and eosin staining. Serum levels of malondialdehyde, superoxide dismutase activity, reduced glutathione levels, and nitric oxide levels were also determined. mRNA and protein expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines (Interleukin-1β/6, and tumor necrosis factor-α) were measured by real-time RT-PCR and ELISA, respectively; NF-κB p65 expression was determined by western blotting. Madecassoside significantly reduced brain infarct area, resolved neurological deficit, and ameliorated neuronal apoptosis. It also significantly reduced the levels of malondialdehyde and nitric oxide, and augmented the antioxidant activity in rats subjected to cerebral I/R. Moreover, the levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines and NF-κB p65 significantly reduced after madecassoside treatment. These results indicate that madecassoside is neuroprotective and may be useful in reducing the damage caused by stroke.

• Authors: Yuan Luo, Yi-Ping Yang, Jie Liu, Wan-Hua Li, Jun Yang, Xin Sui, Xin Yuan, Zhi-Yong Nie, Yan-Qin Liu, Ding Chen, Shao-Hui Lin, Yong-An Wang
• Journal: Brain research (Brain Res) Vol. 1565 Pg. 37-47 (May 27 2014) ISSN: 1872-6240 [Electronic] Netherlands
• PMID: 24735651 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
• Copyright: Copyright © 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Chemical References

• Neuroprotective Agents
• Triterpenes
• madecassoside

Topics

• Animals
• Apoptosis (drug effects)
• Brain Ischemia (drug therapy)
• Cerebral Cortex (drug effects, metabolism, pathology)
• Male
• Neurons (drug effects, metabolism, pathology)
• Neuroprotective Agents (therapeutic use)
• Rats
• Rats, Sprague-Dawley
• Reperfusion Injury (drug therapy)
• Triterpenes (therapeutic use)