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The protective role of oxymatrine on neuronal cell apoptosis in the hemorrhagic rat brain

Authors Huang, Man; Hu, Yue-Yu; Dong, Xiao-Qiao; Xu, Qiu-Ping; Yu, Wen-Hua; Zhang, Zu-Yong

Journal JOURNAL OF ETHNOPHARMACOLOGY , MAR 15 2011,:10

DOI 10.1186/1475-2875-10-S1-S3 PubMed 21411014

Abstract Ethnopharmacological relevance: Oxymatrine is extracted from the traditional Chinese herb Sophora flavescens Ait, possesses anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidative and anti-apoptotic properties, and has been used for the treatment of chronic viral hepatitis and many other diseases.Aims of the study: This study aimed to investigate the effects of oxymatrine on inflammatory response mediated by Toll-like receptor4 (TLR4) and nuclear factor kappa-B (NF-kappa B), oxidative injury induced by 12/15 lipoxygenase (12/15-LOX), phosphorylated p38 mitogen activated protein kinase (phosphor-p38 MAPK) and cytosolic phospholipase A2 (cPLA2), and neuronal cell apoptosis in rat brain with intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH).Materials and methods: Wistar rats were treated intraperitoneally with 60 or 120 mg/kg of oxymatrine daily for 5 days following ICH. The rats were sacrificed at hour 2, 6, 12, 24, 48, 72, and 120 after ICH. The gene expressions of TLR-4 and NF-kappa B, the levels of TNF-alpha, interleukin-1beta, interleukin-6, 12/15-LOX, phospho-p38 MAPK and cPLA2, and the number of apoptotic neuronal cells in rat brain were determined.Results: Oxymatrine at 120 mg/kg significantly suppressed gene expressions of TLR-4 and NF-kappa B, decreased levels of TNF-alpha, interleukin-1 beta and interleukin-6, inhibited synthesis of 12/15-LOX, phospho-p38 MAPK and cPLA2 protein, and mitigated apoptotic neuronal changes following ICH in rat.Conclusion: Oxymatrine at 120 mg/kg following ICH inhibits inflammatory responses, oxidative injury, and neuronal cell apoptosis in rats. (C) 2012 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

Species covered 苦参 Sophora flavescens