Salvia miltiorrhiza and ligustrazine combined with vinpocetine in the treatment of patients with cerebral infarction

Abstract

Objective To evaluate the therapeutic effect of Salvia miltiorrhiza and ligustrazine combined with vinpocetine in patients with cerebral infarction. Methods Atotal of 206 patients with cerebral infarction were randomly divided into a control group and a combined treatment group according to the random number table, 103 in each group. The control group was treated with aspirin and vinpocetine, the combined treatment group received Salvia miltiorrhiza and ligustrazine injection on the basis of the control group. The serum contents of malondialdehyde (MDA) and nitric oxide (NO), as well as the serum levels of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and nitric oxide synthase (NOS) were detected before and after the treatment. The electroencephalography (EEG) amplitudes and the regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) were recorded before and after the treatment . Results In the combined treatment group, the serum content of MDA was significantly decreased (151.36 ± 11.36 mmol/L vs. 62.23 ± 4.11 mmol/L; t=74.878, P<0.01), while the serum content of NO (110.31 ± 9.51 mmol/L vs. 154.23 ± 12.21 mmol/L; t=28.801, P<0.05) and the serum levels of SOD (55.52 ± 4.47 U/ml vs. 85.39 ± 7.21 U/ml; t=35.735, P<0.05) and NOS (115.21 ± 8.39 mmol/L vs. 190.12 ± 11.29 mmol/L; t=54.049, P<0.01) were significantly increased than before the treatment. The rCBF (39.39 ± 2.45 ml/100 g•min vs. 69.95 ± 4.25 ml/100 g•min; t=32.385, P<0.05) and EEG (62.41% ± 4.58% vs. 97.02% ± 9.67%; t=31.012, P<0.05) in the combined treatment group were significantly increased than before the treatment. The total efficiency rate in the combined treatment group was significant higher than that in the control group (88.3% vs. 66.9%; χ2=12.343, P=0.004). Conclusions Salvia miltiorrhiza and ligustrazine combined with vinpocetine has a beneficial therapeutic effect in patients with cerebral infarction, and it is probably associated with increasing cerebral blood flow and enhancing antioxidant activity. Key words: Brain infarction; Chinese herbal; Salvia miltiorrhiza; Chuanxiongzine; Vinca alkaloids; Antioxidants (TCD)