Protection of ursolic acid on global cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury in rats / 国际中医中药杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To investigate the protective effects of ursolic acid (UA) on global cerebral ischemic-reperfusion injury in rats.MethodsThe experimental rats were divided into the sham operation group, the model group, the UA low, medium and high dose groups, 20 in each group. Except the rats in the sham operation group, the rats in other groups were dealed by four arteries occlusion to made global cerebral ischemia-reperfusion model. The rats in the UA low, medium, high dose groups were given UA as 40, 80, 120 mg/kg immediately after the occlusion line was inserted; the rats in the sham operation group and the model group were given equal-volume saline. And 6 hours later, the recovery time of righting reflex and electrical activity of brain were recorded, water content of the brain were evaluated, and the activity of LDH, MDA, SOD, CAT in brain tissue were determined; the inflammatory cytokines content of TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6 were determined by ELISA. Results Compared with the model group, the recovery time of righting reflex (20.6 ± 7.2 min, 18.2 ± 6.9 min vs. 27.3 ± 8.8 min) and electrical activity of brain (16.2 ± 5.8 min, 14.9 ± 5.6 min vs.24.1 ± 7.2 min) of the UA medium and high dose groups were shortened (P<0.05 orP<0.01); the water content were significantly decreased (79.0% ± 0.7%, 78.6% ± 0.5%vs. 80.7% ± 0.9%;P<0.05 orP<0.01); the activity of SOD (158.5 ± 8.4 U/mg, 165.4 ± 9.0 U/mgvs. 143.0 ± 7.1 U/mg), CAT (3.3 ± 1.4 U/mg, 3.9 ± 1.5 U/mgvs. 2.4 ± 0.9 U/mg) in brain tissue of the UA medium and the high dose groups were significantly improved; the content of LDH (16.0 ± 2.6 mmol/g, 18.4 ± 2.8 mmol/gvs. 12.4 ± 1.9 mmol/g) were significantly increased; the content of MDA (18.6 ± 2.8μmol/g, 17.2 ± 2.4μmol/gvs. 24.9 ± 3.4μmol/g), TNF-α (45.8 ± 6.3 nmol/L, 40.1 ± 5.6 nmol/Lvs. 56.3 ± 7.2 nmol/L), IL-6 (187.2 ± 18.5 nmol/L, 136.8 ± 15.7 nmol/Lvs. 238.4 ± 22.9 nmol/L) were significantly decreased, and the content of IL-1β in UA 120 mg/kg treated group was significantly decreased (713.6 ± 56.3 nmol/L vs. 915.7 ± 70.5 nmol/L;P<0.05 orP<0.01).Conclusion UA can effectively promote righting reflex and EEG recovery, reduce brain water content, which perhaps related with its pharmacological effects of enhanceing the activity of antioxidant enzymes, lower oxidative stress, and inhibit inflammation.