Abstract
Stroke is the third leading cause of mortality and disability in industrial countries. Treatment with herbs with antioxidant properties has been reported to be an alternative to the conventional treatments. This study was conducted to investigate the effect of Anchusa italica extract on hippocampal injury induced by transient global cerebral ischemia and reperfusion in the rat. To do so, 50 rats were randomly assigned to five groups; control, sham, ischemia, and 50 or 100 mg/kg of Anchusa italica treated animals. Ischemia was induced by occlusion of carotid artery for 30 minutes. Afterward, behavioral tests and biochemical analyses were conducted. Induction of ischemia/reperfusion caused a decline in learning and passive avoidance memory in rats. Moreover, Anchusa italica caused an increase in learning and improved the passive avoidance memory. Induction of ischemia/reperfusion caused a decrease in the antioxidant capacity of the brain and serum as well as an increase in the malondialdehyde of the brain and serum. Anchusa italica led to an increase in the antioxidant capacity of the brain and serum and decrease in the malondialdehyde of the brain and serum. Overall, because of its protective effects on spatial memory, passive avoidance learning, antioxidant capacity, and lipid peroxidation during ischemia/reperfusion, Anchusa italica might be beneficial in ischemic patients.
Highlights
Cerebral ischemia is one of the most debilitating brain injuries and the most important cause of mortality worldwide in people over 65 years
Different factors are effective in inducing cerebral ischemia including cardiac arrest, atherosclerosis, thromboembolitic events, vasoconstriction, congenital heart disorders, low blood pressure, and some types of tumors (Thom et al, 2006; Bernard et al, 2002; Pourheydar et al, 2014)
Cerebral ischemia causes initiation of signaling cascade that leads to the production of free radicals and oxidative stress depending on the severity and duration of the complication
Summary
Cerebral ischemia is one of the most debilitating brain injuries and the most important cause of mortality worldwide in people over 65 years. Different factors are effective in inducing cerebral ischemia including cardiac arrest, atherosclerosis, thromboembolitic events, vasoconstriction, congenital heart disorders, low blood pressure, and some types of tumors (Thom et al, 2006; Bernard et al, 2002; Pourheydar et al, 2014). Neurological events due to cerebral ischemia include sensory, movement, and visual disorders as well as aphasia, agnosia, amnesia, and impaired spatial learning and memory (Andrews et al, 2008; Bokura, Robinson, 1997). Generation of free radicals including reactive oxygen (ROS) and nitrogen species (RNS) brings damage to lipids, proteins, and desoxyribonucleic acid, resulting in neuronal death. Free radicals play an important role in breaking the blood-brain barrier and inducing cerebral edema (Wolff, Dean, 1987). The final product of lipids peroxidation is malondialdehyde (MDA), which is a mutagenic, carcinogenic, and highly reactive compound (Janero, 1990)
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