Protective effect of Danhong injection on cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury in rats.

Abstract

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE:

Danhong injection (DH), a Chinese medical product, is used extensively for the treatment of cerebrovascular diseases such as acutely cerebral infarction in clinic.

AIM OF THE STUDY:

To explore the protective effect and the relevant mechanisms of DH on cerebral ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury.

MATERIALS AND METHODS:

Cerebral I/R injury was induced through four-vessel occlusion (4-VO) or middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO). Adult male SD rats were randomly divided into six kinds of groups: normal control group, sham-operated group, I/R injury group, DH-treated groups at doses of 0.5ml/kg, 1.0ml/kg and 2.0ml/kg. The effects of DH on murine neurological deficits and cerebral infarct volume, 6-keto-prostagladin F(1α) (6-keto-PGF(1α)) level, malondialdehyde (MDA) level and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity in brain tissue, as well as the activities of plasma tissue-type plasminogen activator (t-PA) and plasminogen activator inhibitor (PAI) after I/R were evaluated. Moreover, the expressions of Bcl-2 and Bax protein were detected by immunohistochemistry.

RESULTS:

There was no significant difference between the control group and the sham-operated group based on the measurement indicators. Compared with the vehicle-treated group, rats treated with DH showed dose dependent reductions in brain infarction size, and improvement of neurological outcome. The level of 6-keto-PGF(1α) and the activities of SOD and plasma t-PA were enhanced significantly, whereas the level of MDA and the activity of plasma PAI were declined significantly. The immunohistochemical staining results also revealed that the expression of Bcl-2 protein was up-regulated and that of Bax protein was down-regulated when exposed to DH.

CONCLUSION:

DH demonstrates a strong ameliorative effect on cerebral I/R damage in rats by its anticoagulant, antithrombotic, antifibrinolytic and antioxidant activities. Furthermore, suppressing apoptosis through regulating Bcl-2 and Bax protein expressions should be another potential mechanism by which DH exerts its neuroprotective function.

• Authors: Yu He, Haitong Wan, Yueguang Du, Xiaodong Bie, Tao Zhao, Wei Fu, Panke Xing
• Journal: Journal of ethnopharmacology (J Ethnopharmacol) Vol. 144 Issue 2 Pg. 387-94 (Nov 21 2012) ISSN: 1872-7573 [Electronic] Ireland
• PMID: 23010366 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
• Copyright: Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

Chemical References

• Bax protein, rat
• Drugs, Chinese Herbal
• Neuroprotective Agents
• Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2
• bcl-2-Associated X Protein
• danhong
• Malondialdehyde
• Superoxide Dismutase

Topics

• Animals
• Brain (drug effects, metabolism)
• Drugs, Chinese Herbal (therapeutic use)
• Injections, Intravenous
• Male
• Malondialdehyde (metabolism)
• Neuroprotective Agents (therapeutic use)
• Phytotherapy
• Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 (metabolism)
• Rats
• Rats, Sprague-Dawley
• Reperfusion Injury (drug therapy, metabolism)
• Superoxide Dismutase (metabolism)
• bcl-2-Associated X Protein (metabolism)