Evaluation of the neuroprotective and antioxidant effects of Dorema aucheri extract on cerebral ischaemia-reperfusion injury in rats

Abstract

Context: The hydroalcoholic extract of Dorema aucheri Bilhar (Umbelliferae) (DA) leaves, a medicinal plant, has powerful antioxidant properties.

Objective: This study evaluates the neuroprotective effects of pre-treatment with DA leaves extract against cerebral ischaemia-induced brain injury through alteration of the antioxidant capacity.

Materials and methods: The study was conducted in three groups of Wistar rats (N = 47) as follows; sham, control ischaemic and pre-treated ischaemic groups. Rats were administered a fresh hydroalcoholic extract of DA leaves at a dosage of 200 mg/kg/day for 14 days. Then, the middle cerebral artery (MCA) of the right hemisphere was occluded for 90 min to achieve cerebral ischaemia. After 24 h reperfusion, cerebral infarction and superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase activities, as well as malondialdehyde (MDA), glutathione, and NOx contents were determined in the right hemispheres.

Results: Occlusion of the right MCA caused noticeable cerebral infarction (298 ± 21 mm³) in control ischaemic group, but pre-treatment with DA extract considerably attenuated it (92 ± 14 mm³) in the pre-treated ischaemic group. DA extract significantly decreased the levels of MDA by 28% and NOx by 11% in pre-treated ischaemic group compared to the control ischaemic group. DA extract also enhanced glutathione content by 7%, SOD activity by 16% and catalase activity by 46% in pre-treated ischaemic rats compared to control ischaemic rats.

Discussion and conclusions: DA is able to improve the antioxidant capacity and injuries of ischaemic brain. It is proposed as a neuroprotectant following cerebral ischaemia to decrease the injuries of ischaemic stroke.

Keywords:

• Brain infarction
• brain swelling
• oxidative stress
• nitrosative stress

Acknowledgements

This study was performed in the Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Faculty of Medicine, Baqiyatallah University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. The authors cordially appreciate the Students' Research Committee of Baqiyatallah University of Medical Sciences.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.