Increasing evidence shows that oxidative stress and
neuroinflammation play a crucial role in the pathology of
vascular dementia (VD). Previously, we have found that
Dl-3-n-butylphthalide (NBP) has
antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities in VD, whereas little is known about its mechanism. Therefore, the objective of our study was to explore the contribution of nuclear factor erythroid-2 related factor 2 (Nrf2) to NBP and its effects on anti-inflammatory activity in a mouse model of VD. Our studies revealed that NBP could effectively mitigate cognitive deficits, neuron cell loss, and apoptosis in mice subjected to repeated
cerebral ischemia-reperfusion (RCIR). Additionally, NBP promoted both the expression of
brain-derived neurotrophic factor (
BDNF) and
tyrosine receptor kinase B (TrkB) in hippocampus tissue. NBP exhibited
antioxidant activity by enhancing Nrf2 nuclear accumulation, increasing HO-1 and NQO1 expression, enhancing SOD activity, and inhibiting RCIR-induced MDA and 8-iso PGF2α generation in the hippocampus. NBP also significantly inhibited TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB signaling and suppressed microglial proliferation and the production of proinflammatory mediators in RCIR mice. Importantly, the
antioxidant, antineuroinflammatory, and
neuroprotective effects of NBP above were abolished by Nrf2 knockout. Collectively, these results indicated the effects of NBP on
neuroinflammation were strongly associated with the Nrf2 pathway. Modulation of TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB pathway by Nrf2 is involved in the
neuroprotective effect of NBP against VD induced by RCIR injury. With
antioxidant and anti-neuroinflammatory properties, NBP could be a promising drug candidate for the prevention and/or treatment of VD and other
neuroinflammatory disorders.