Neuroprotective effects of total saponins from Rubus parvifolius L. on cerebral ischemia/ reperfusion injury in rats

• Published in: Neural regeneration research Vol. 7; no. 3; pp. 176 - 181
• Main Authors: Wang, Jisheng, Zhang, Fang, Tang, Li, Sun, Liqiong, Song, Xiaolin, Cao, Lisha, Qiu, Zongyin, Zhou, Chenglin
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: India Medknow Publications & Media Pvt. Ltd 25.01.2012; Medknow Publications & Media Pvt Ltd
• Subjects: Animals; Apoptosis; Brain; Deoxyribonucleic acid; DNA; Edema; Experiments; Hypoxia; Ischemia; Medical research; mRNA水平; Neurons; Pharmaceutical industry; Protein expression; Proteins; Research and Report: Traditional Chinese Medicine and Neuroregeneration; Rodents; Studies; Surgery; Traditional Chinese medicine; 促凋亡因子; 总皂苷; 神经保护作用; 缺血/再灌注损伤; 缺血再灌注损伤; 脑梗塞; 茅莓; China; Bcl-2; Bax; cerebral ischemia/reperfusion; apoptosis; total saponins of Rubus parvifolius L
• ISSN: 1673-5374; 1876-7958
• DOI: 10.3969/j.issn.1673-5374.2012.03.003

This study examines the neuroprotective effects and mechanisms of action of total saponins from Rubus parvifolius L. （TSRP） on focal cerebral ischemia and reperfusion injury in rats. Focal cerebral ischemia and reperfusion injury was performed in rats using the suture method. The results indicate that intragastric injection of TSRP, at 5, 10 and 20 mg/kg, could decrease neurological impairment, reduce cerebral infarct volume, diminish pathological changes, and significantly inhibit the apoptosis of neurons surrounding the ischemic area. In addition, TSRP upregulated the expression of the anti-apoptotic factor Bcl-2, at the protein and mRNA levels, and it downregulated the expression of the pro-apoptotic factor Bax, at the protein and mRNA levels. These findings indicate that TSRP protects against cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury, and that it may do so by regulating the expression of Bcl-2 and Bax.