Neuroprotective effects of Gualou Guizhi decoction in vivo and in vitro.

Abstract

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE:

Gualou Guizhi decoction (GLGZD) prescribed in traditional Chinese medicine has been reported to have protective effects on ischemic stroke. The present study is to investigate the therapeutic effect of GLGZD on ischemic stroke and explore its mode of action.

MATERIALS AND METHODS:

GLGZD was studied on transient middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) followed by reperfusion in vivo, as well as on hippocampal primary neuron cultures in vitro.

RESULTS:

In vivo, it was shown that GLGZD treatment for 7 days could ameliorate transient middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO)-induced neurological deficit, histopathology changes and decrease infarct area. Further study demonstrated that GLGZD inhibited over-activation of astrocytes and apoptosis of neurons and GLGZD promoted up-regulation of neuronal specific marker neuron-specific nuclear (NeuN) and microtubule-associated protein 2 (MAP-2) in brain. Moreover, the in vitro study revealed that GLGZD treatment protected against NMDA-induced cell apoptosis and neuronal loss, and promoted up-regulation of neuronal specific marker NeuN.

CONCLUSIONS:

Taken together, the present study demonstrates that GLGZD produces a protection in the MCAO model rats via inhibiting over-activation of astrocytes, apoptosis of neurons and up-regulation of neuronal specific marker NeuN and MAP-2. Our study reveals that GLGZD might be a potential neuroprotective agent for stroke and can provide basic data for clinical use.

• Authors: Yuqin Zhang, Huang Li, Mei Huang, Kedan Chu, Wei Xu, Shengnan Zhang, Jinhua Que, Lidian Chen
• Journal: Journal of ethnopharmacology (J Ethnopharmacol) Vol. 158 Pt A Pg. 76-84 (Dec 02 2014) ISSN: 1872-7573 [Electronic] Ireland
• PMID: 25456424 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
• Copyright: Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

Chemical References

• Antigens, Nuclear
• Drugs, Chinese Herbal
• MAP2 protein, rat
• Microtubule-Associated Proteins
• Nerve Tissue Proteins
• Neuroprotective Agents
• Rbfox3 protein, rat
• gua lou gui zhi

Topics

• Animals
• Antigens, Nuclear (genetics)
• Apoptosis (drug effects)
• Astrocytes (drug effects, metabolism)
• Brain Ischemia (prevention & control)
• Disease Models, Animal
• Drugs, Chinese Herbal (pharmacology)
• Hippocampus (drug effects, metabolism)
• Infarction, Middle Cerebral Artery
• Male
• Microtubule-Associated Proteins (genetics)
• Nerve Tissue Proteins (genetics)
• Neurons (drug effects, pathology)
• Neuroprotective Agents (pharmacology)
• Rats
• Rats, Sprague-Dawley
• Stroke (prevention & control)
• Up-Regulation (drug effects)