The protective mechanism underlying total flavones of Dracocephalum (TFD) effects on rat cerebral ischemia reperfusion injury.

Abstract

Previously, total flavones of Dracocephalum (TFD), derived from Dracocephalum, were found to exert protective effects in cerebral ischemia reperfusion injury (CIRI) in middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) rat model. However, the mechanisms underlying these observed effects of TFD on MCAO-induced rats still remain to be determined. Therefore, the aim of this study was to examine whether TFD alleviated MCAO through mechanisms involving anti-inflammatory and anti-apoptotic using MCAO rats. The following parameters were measured: (1) percentage (%) area of brain infarction; (2) serum levels of inflammatory cytokines, including tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) and (3) expression protein levels of caspase-3 and AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK). Results showed that MCAO significantly increased the % area of brain infarction, while TFD administration in these animals markedly reduced % area of brain infarction. A significant elevation on serum levels of TNF-α and IL-6 was noted with MCAO which was markedly reduced by TFD. In addition, MCAO produced a significant rise in protein expression levels of caspase-3 and AMPK. In contrast, TFD markedly lowered protein expression levels of caspase-3 and AMPK. Data suggest that the protective effects of TFD in MCAO model animals may involve inhibition of inflammatory mediator release associated with apoptosis through down regulation of AMPK signaling pathway.

• Authors: Peng Wu, Xu-Sheng Yan, Yu Zhang, Dong-Sheng Huo, Wei Song, Xin Fang, He Wang, Zhan-Jun Yang, Jian-Xin Jia
• Journal: Journal of toxicology and environmental health. Part A (J Toxicol Environ Health A) Vol. 81 Issue 21 Pg. 1108-1115 ( 2018) ISSN: 1528-7394 [Print] England
• PMID: 30430924 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Cytokines
• Flavones
• Plant Extracts
• Protective Agents
• AMP-Activated Protein Kinases
• CASP3 protein, human
• Caspase 3

Topics

• AMP-Activated Protein Kinases (genetics, metabolism)
• Animals
• Apoptosis (immunology)
• Brain Infarction (pathology)
• Caspase 3 (genetics, metabolism)
• Cerebrum (pathology, physiopathology)
• Cytokines (blood)
• Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
• Flavones (pharmacology)
• Inflammation (immunology)
• Lamiaceae (chemistry)
• Male
• Plant Extracts (chemistry, pharmacology)
• Protective Agents (pharmacology)
• Random Allocation
• Rats
• Rats, Wistar
• Reperfusion Injury (prevention & control)