HOMEPRODUCTSCOMPANYCONTACTFAQResearchDictionaryPharmaSign Up FREE or Login

Neuroprotective effects of crocin against traumatic brain injury in mice: Involvement of notch signaling pathway.

Abstract
This study investigated the protective effects and mechanisms of crocin, an extract of saffron, on brain damage after traumatic brain injury (TBI) in mice. C57BL/6 mice were subjected to controlled cortical impact (CCI)-induced TBI. Pretreatment with crocin (20mg/kg) had protective effects against TBI, demonstrated by improved neurological severity score (NSS) and brain edema, decreased microglial activation and release of several pro-inflammatory cytokines, and decreased cell apoptosis. TBI activated Notch signaling, as shown by upregulated levels of Notch intracellular domain (NICD) and Hes1 mRNA, and pretreatment with crocin further increased Notch activation. However, pretreatment with DAPT (100mg/kg), a gamma-secretase inhibitor, significantly suppressed crocin-induced activation of Notch signaling and attenuated the ability of crocin to protect mice against TBI-induced inflammation and apoptosis. Therefore, these results suggest that crocin has neuroprotective effects against TBI in mice, and these effects are at least partially dependent on activation of Notch signaling.
AuthorsKai Wang, Lei Zhang, Wei Rao, Ning Su, Hao Hui, Li Wang, Cheng Peng, Yue Tu, Sai Zhang, Zhou Fei
JournalNeuroscience letters (Neurosci Lett) Vol. 591 Pg. 53-58 (Mar 30 2015) ISSN: 1872-7972 [Electronic] Ireland
PMID25681620 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
CopyrightCopyright © 2015 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.
Chemical References
  • Neuroprotective Agents
  • Receptors, Notch
  • Carotenoids
  • crocin
Topics
  • Animals
  • Apoptosis (drug effects)
  • Brain Edema (drug therapy, metabolism)
  • Brain Injuries (drug therapy, immunology, physiopathology)
  • Carotenoids (pharmacology, therapeutic use)
  • Inflammation (drug therapy, immunology)
  • Male
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Microglia (metabolism)
  • Neuroprotective Agents (pharmacology, therapeutic use)
  • Receptors, Notch (metabolism)
  • Signal Transduction

Join CureHunter, for free Research Interface BASIC access!

Take advantage of free CureHunter research engine access to explore the best drug and treatment options for any disease. Find out why thousands of doctors, pharma researchers and patient activists around the world use CureHunter every day.
Realize the full power of the drug-disease research graph!


Choose Username:
Email:
Password:
Verify Password:
Enter Code Shown: