Abstract
Pycnogenol® (an extract of the bark of French maritime pine tree) is used for dietary supplement and known to have excellent antioxidative efficacy. However, there are few reports on neuroprotective effect of Pycnogenol® supplementation and its mechanisms against ischemic injury following transient forebrain ischemia (TFI) in gerbils. Now, we examined neuroprotective effect and its mechanisms of Pycnogenol® in the gerbils with 5-min TFI, which evokes a significant death (loss) of pyramidal cells located in the cornu ammonis (CA1) region of gerbil hippocampus from 4–5 days post-TFI. Gerbils were pretreated with 30, 40, and 50 mg/kg of Pycnogenol® once a day for 7 days before TFI surgery. Treatment with 50 mg/kg, not 30 or 40 mg/kg, of Pycnogenol® potently protected learning and memory, as well as CA1 pyramidal cells, from ischemic injury. Treatment with 50 mg/kg Pycnogenol® significantly enhanced immunoreactivity of antioxidant enzymes (superoxide dismutases and catalase) in the pyramidal cells before and after TFI induction. Furthermore, the treatment significantly reduced the generation of superoxide anion, ribonucleic acid oxidation and lipid peroxidation in the pyramidal cells. Moreover, interestingly, its neuroprotective effect was abolished by administration of sodium azide (a potent inhibitor of SODs and catalase activities). Taken together, current results clearly indicate that Pycnogenol® supplementation can prevent neurons from ischemic stroke through its potent antioxidative role.
Highlights
Transient brain ischemia occurs following transient block or reduction of blood flow to brain tissue, and it results in irreversible injury to a large part of the brain, which can cause neurological deficits including cognitive and motor impairments [1,2]
In all sham groups, there were no significant differences in latency time at 5 days after transient forebrain ischemia (TFI) (Figure 1A)
40 mg/kg PYC/TFI groups, the latency time was shortened in comparison with that in the vehicle/sham group (Figure 1A)
Summary
Transient brain ischemia occurs following transient block or reduction of blood flow to brain tissue, and it results in irreversible injury to a large part of the brain, which can cause neurological deficits including cognitive and motor impairments [1,2]. Pine bark is known as a rich source of natural polyphenols, including proanthocyanidins which have high antioxidant capacity [8,9], and it has been utilized in traditional folk medicine for broad health issues [10]. PYC protects neuronal cells from apoptosis induced by amyloid β peptide [13], neuroinflammation induced by 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1, 2, 3, 6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP), and neurodegeneration [14]. It improves spatial memory deficit in mice with Alzheimer’s disease [15]. Ozoner et al (2019) recently reported that PYC protected inflammatory and oxidative injury in rat brains following transient focal brain ischemia that was induced by ligation of middle cerebral artery [16]
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
