Effects of Urtica dioica extract on caspase-3 and cyclooxygenase-2 genes expression in a rat stroke model

Abstract

The promising protective effect of Urtica dioica (U. dioica) extract on different organs' injuries is well established. Nevertheless, its ameliorative activity against cerebral ischemia (stroke) has not yet been clearly evaluated. As such, this study was designed to explore the probable neuroprotective activity of U. dioica on neurological deficit score (NDS), infarct volume (IV) and gene expression of caspase-3 and cyclooxygenases-2 (COX-2) in a rat model of stroke. In this study, twenty-four Wistar rats were randomly arranged into three groups: (1) intact, (2) Middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) control and (3) MCAO + U. dioica (100 mg/kg; daily intraperitoneal (IP) injection for 7 days until one day before induction of MCAO). After 24-h reperfusion, NDS was measured and then the brain tissues were isolated to determine the IV and the mRNA level of COX-2 and caspase-3 genes by 2,3,5-triphenyltetrazolium chloride (TTC)-staining and Real time PCR techniques, respectively. The results showed that pretreatment with U. dioica considerably decreased the NDS and IV in the core, penumbra and subcortex of MCAO-induced rats regarding MCAO rats (P < 0.05). Also, the mRNA level of caspase-3 in the all-mentioned areas of brain was markedly diminished in the U. dioica-treated group in comparison with the MCAO group (P < 0.05). However, COX-2 gene expression was elevated in the subcortex area of MCAO and U. dioica rats in comparison to the intact rats (P < 0.05). Overall, pretreatment with U. dioica might mitigate brain injury after ischemic stroke, most probably by regulating caspase-3 and COX-2 genes expression.