Theaflavin Ameliorates Cerebral Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury in Rats Through Its Anti-Inflammatory Effect and Modulation of STAT-1

• Published in: Mediators of inflammation Vol. 2006; pp. 1 - 9
• Main Authors: Cai, Fei, Li, Cai-Rong, Wu, Ji-Liang, Chen, Jian-Guo, Liu, Chao, Min, Qing, Yu, Wei, Ouyang, Chang-Han, Chen, Jin-He
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 2006
• ISSN: 0962-9351; 1466-1861
• DOI: 10.1155/MI/2006/030490

Theaflavin, a major constituent of black tea, possesses biological functions such as the antioxidative, antiviral, and anti-inflammatory ones. The purpose of this study was to verify whether theaflavin reduces focal cerebral ischemia injury in a rat model of middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO). Male Sprague-Dawley rats were anesthetized and subjected to 2 hours of MCAO followed 24 hours reperfusion. Theaflavin administration (5, 10, and 20 mg/kg, IV) ameliorated infarct and edema volume. Theaflavin inhibited leukocyte infiltration and expression of ICAM-1, COX-2, and iNOS in injured brain. Phosphorylation of STAT-1, a protein which mediates intracellular signaling to the nucleus, was enhanced 2-fold over that of sham group and was inhibited by theaflavin. Our study demonstrated that theaflavin significantly protected neurons from cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury by limiting leukocyte infiltration and expression of ICAM-1, and suppressing upregulation of inflammatory-related prooxidative enzymes (iNOS and COX-2) in ischemic brain via, at least in part, reducing the phosphorylation of STAT-1.