Baicalin attenuates focal cerebral ischemic reperfusion injury by inhibition of protease-activated receptor-1 and apoptosis.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE:

To investigate the neuro-protective effects of baicalin in Wistar rats with focal cerebral ischemic reperfusion injury.

METHODS:

Ninety adult male Wistar rats weighing 320-350 g were randomly divided into the following groups (n=5): (a) sham control group; (b) vehicle group, subjected to middle cerebral artery occlusion and received vehicle intraperitoneally; (c-e) baicalin groups, which were subjected to the middle cerebral artery occlusion and treated with baicalin 25, 50 and 100 mg/kg, respectively. The neurological scores were determined at postoperative 1, 3 and 7 d after the treatment. The expression of protease-activated receptor-1 (PAR-1), PAR-1 mRNA and Caspase-3 were determined using Western blot, reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RTPCR) analysis and immunohistochemistry, respectively.

RESULTS:

Significant decrease was noted in the neurological score in the baicalin group compared with that of the vehicle group (P<0.01). Additionally, down-regulation of PAR-1 mRNA, PAR-1 and Caspase-3 was observed in the baicalin groups compared with those obtained from the vehicle group (P<0.01). Compared with the low-dose baicalin group (25 mg/kg), remarkable decrease was noted in neurological score, and the expression of PAR-1 mRNA, PAR-1 as well as Caspase-3 in the high-dose group (P<0.05).

CONCLUSION:

Baicalin showed neuro-protective effects in focal cerebral ischemic reperfusion injury through inhibiting the expression of PAR-1 and apoptosis.

• Authors: Qing-bo Zhou, Cheng-zhu Duan, Qing Jia, Ping Liu, Lu-yang Li
• Journal: Chinese journal of integrative medicine (Chin J Integr Med) Vol. 20 Issue 2 Pg. 116-22 (Feb 2014) ISSN: 1672-0415 [Print] China
• PMID: 23504578 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Flavonoids
• RNA, Messenger
• Receptor, PAR-1
• baicalin
• Caspase 3

Topics

• Animals
• Apoptosis (drug effects)
• Brain Ischemia (complications, drug therapy, genetics, pathology)
• Caspase 3 (metabolism)
• Flavonoids (administration & dosage, pharmacology, therapeutic use)
• Gene Expression Regulation (drug effects)
• Male
• RNA, Messenger (genetics, metabolism)
• Rats
• Rats, Wistar
• Receptor, PAR-1 (antagonists & inhibitors, genetics, metabolism)
• Reperfusion Injury (complications, drug therapy, genetics, pathology)