Abstract |
As a medicinal plant, the roots of Valeriana officinalis have been used as a sedative and tranquilizer. In the present study, we evaluated the neuroprotective effects of valerian root extracts (VE) on the hippocampal CA1 region of gerbils after 5 min of transient cerebral ischemia. Gerbils were administered VE orally once a day for 3 weeks, subjected to ischemia/reperfusion injury, and continued on VE for 3 weeks. The administration of 100 mg/kg VE (VE100 group) significantly reduced the ischemia-induced spontaneous motor hyperactivity 1 day after ischemia/reperfusion. Four days after ischemia/reperfusion, animals treated with VE showed abundant cresyl violet-positive neurons in the hippocampal CA1 region when compared to the vehicle or 25 mg/kg VE-treated groups. In addition, the VE treatment markedly decreased microglial activation in the hippocampal CA1 region 4 days after ischemia. Compared to the other groups, the VE100 group showed the lowest level of lipid peroxidation during the first 24 h after ischemia/reperfusion. In summary, the findings in this study suggest that pretreatment with VE has protective effects against ischemic injury in the hippocampal pyramidal neurons by decreasing microglial activation and lipid peroxidation.
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Authors | Dae Young Yoo, Hyo Young Jung, Sung Min Nam, Jong Whi Kim, Jung Hoon Choi, Youn-Gil Kwak, Miyoung Yoo, Sanghee Lee, Yeo Sung Yoon, In Koo Hwang |
Journal | Journal of medicinal food
(J Med Food)
Vol. 18
Issue 6
Pg. 642-7
(Jun 2015)
ISSN: 1557-7600 [Electronic] United States |
PMID | 25785762
(Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
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Chemical References |
- Antioxidants
- Neuroprotective Agents
- Plant Extracts
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Topics |
- Animals
- Antioxidants
(pharmacology, therapeutic use)
- CA1 Region, Hippocampal
(drug effects)
- Gerbillinae
- Hippocampus
(drug effects, metabolism, pathology)
- Ischemic Attack, Transient
(drug therapy, metabolism, pathology)
- Lipid Peroxidation
(drug effects)
- Male
- Microglia
(drug effects)
- Neuroprotective Agents
(pharmacology, therapeutic use)
- Oxidative Stress
(drug effects)
- Phytotherapy
- Plant Extracts
(pharmacology, therapeutic use)
- Plant Roots
- Pyramidal Cells
- Reperfusion Injury
(metabolism, prevention & control)
- Valerian
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