Treating
cerebral ischemia continues to be a clinical challenge. Studies have shown that the neurovascular unit (NVU), as the central structural basis, plays a key role in
cerebral ischemia. Here, we report that
anthocyanin, a safe and natural
antioxidant, could inhibit apoptosis and
inflammation to protect NVU in rats impaired by
middle cerebral artery occlusion/reperfusion (MCAO/R). Administration of
anthocyanin significantly reduced
infarct volume and neurological scores in MCAO/R rats.
Anthocyanin could also markedly ameliorate
cerebral edema and reduce the concentration of
Evans blue (EB) by inhibiting MMP-9. Moreover,
anthocyanin alleviated apoptotic injury resulting from MCAO/R through the regulation of Bcl-2 family
proteins. The levels of
inflammation-related molecules including
tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-1β (IL-1β), and
interleukin-6 (IL-6), which were over-expressed with MCAO/R, were decreased by
anthocyanin. In addition,
Nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) and the NLRP3
inflammasome pathway might be involved in the anti-inflammatory effect of
anthocyanin. In conclusion,
anthocyanin could protect the NVU through multiple pathways, and play a protective role in
cerebral ischemia/
reperfusion injury.