GC-MS-Based Metabolomics to Reveal the Protective Effect of Gross Saponins of Tribulus terrestris Fruit against Ischemic Stroke in Rat.

Hongyu Zhao,Wenjun Guo,Tunhai Xu,Yue Liu,Yang Wang,Manqi Zhang,Yajuan Xu,Shengxu Xie,Xinyu Liu,Yanru Bao

doi:10.3390/molecules24040793

Abstract

Stroke is one of the most common neurological disorders and seriously threatens human life. Gross saponins of Tribulus terrestris fruit (GSTTF) are used for neuroprotective treatment on convalescents of ischemic stroke. However, the therapeutic effects and mechanisms have not yet well understood, especially from the metabolic perspective. In this study, the protective effect of GSTTF on ischemic stroke in a middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) rat model was investigated by the GC-MS-based metabolomics approach. 2,3,5-triphenyltetrazolium chloride (TTC) staining of brain tissues showed that GSTTF significantly reduced the infarct area after MCAO surgery. Metabolomic profiling showed a series of metabolic perturbation occurs in ischemic stroke compared with sham group. GSTTF can reverse the MCAO-induced serum metabolic deviations by regulating multiple metabolic pathways including fatty acids metabolism, amino acids metabolism, and carbohydrates metabolism. The current study provided a useful approach for understanding the mechanism of MCAO-induced ischemic stroke and a reliable basis for evaluating the efficacy of GSTTF in the treatment of ischemic stroke.

Highlights

Stroke is one of the most fatal neurological diseases, the second leading cause of death in people over 60 years old and the fifth leading cause of death in people aged 15–59 worldwide [1]
In Gross saponins of Tribulus terrestris fruit (GSTTF)-treated group, a significant recovery (p < 0.01) in the infarct area was observed in triphenyltetrazolium chloride (TTC) stained cerebral slices
The protective effect of GSTTF on ischemic stroke was investigated by the GC-MS-based metabolomics

Summary

Introduction

Stroke is one of the most fatal neurological diseases, the second leading cause of death in people over 60 years old and the fifth leading cause of death in people aged 15–59 worldwide [1]. More than 80% of all strokes are caused by ischemic events, resulting in devastating neurological sequelae accompanied by severe morphological and molecular alterations [2]. The first-choice treatment for ischemic stroke is thrombolysis, which attempts to dissolve the clots, restore blood flow, and preserve the surrounding brain tissue. This strategy could change the course of ischemia only if performed in a narrow time window [3,4].

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