Amelioration of cognitive, motor and endogenous defense functions with silymarin, piracetam and protocatechuic acid in the cerebral global ischemic rat model

• Published in: Life sciences (1973) Vol. 93; no. 1; pp. 51 - 57
• Main Authors: Muley, Milind M., Thakare, Vishnu N., Patil, Rajesh R., Bafna, Pallavi A., Naik, Suresh R.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier Inc 19.07.2013
• Subjects: Analysis of Variance; animal models; Animals; Brain Ischemia - drug therapy; Brain Ischemia - pathology; carotid arteries; catalase; Catalase - metabolism; cognition; Cognition - drug effects; Cognition - physiology; Cognitive and motor functions; Global ischemic rat model; glutathione; Glutathione - metabolism; Histological Techniques; histopathology; Hydroxybenzoates - pharmacology; Immunity, Innate - drug effects; infarction; lipid peroxidation; Lipid Peroxidation - drug effects; Motor Activity - drug effects; Motor Activity - physiology; Neuroprotective Agents - pharmacology; neuroprotective effect; Oxidative stress; PCA; Piracetam; Piracetam - pharmacology; protocatechuic acid; Rats; Rats, Wistar; Reaction Time - drug effects; Reperfusion Injury - drug therapy; Reperfusion Injury - pathology; Rotarod Performance Test; Silymarin; Silymarin - pharmacology; superoxide dismutase; Superoxide Dismutase - metabolism; throat; water content; Global ischemic rat model; Oxidative stress; Piracetam; Silymarin; Cognitive and motor functions; PCA
• ISSN: 0024-3205; 1879-0631
• DOI: 10.1016/j.lfs.2013.05.020

The neuroprotective activities of silymarin, piracetam and protocatechuic acid ethyl ester (PCA) on cerebral global ischemic/reperfusion were evaluated in a rat model. A midline ventral incision was made in the throat region. The right and left common carotid arteries were located and a bilateral common carotid artery occlusion (BCCAO) was performed for 30min using atraumatic clamps followed by a 24h period of reperfusion. Neurological/behavioral functions (cognitive and motor), endogenous defense systems (lipid peroxidation, glutathione, catalase, and superoxide dismutase), reduced water content and infarct size and histopathological alterations were then studied. Silymarin and PCA treatments significantly improved cognitive, motor and endogenous defense functions, histopathological alterations, and, reduced both water content and infarct size compared to the vehicle-treated ischemic control group. Piracetam treatment improved neurological and histopathological alterations, reduced water content and infarct size, but failed to restore/prevent the impaired endogenous defense functions significantly. Silymarin showed better neuroprotection than piracetam and PCA in experimentally induced global ischemic/reperfusion and was able to facilitate mnemonic performance.