ABSTRACT
Fucoidan has been reported to exhibit various beneficial activities ranging from to antivirus and anticancer properties. However, little information is available about the effects of fucoidan on cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury (IRI). Our study aimed to explore the effects of fucoidan on cerebral IRI, as well as the underlying mechanisms. Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were randomly subjected to four groups: Sham, IRI+saline (IRI+S), IRI+80 mg/kg fucoidan (IRI+F80), and IRI+160 mg/kg fucoidan (IRI+F160). Fucoidan (80 mg/kg or 160 mg/kg) was intraperitoneally injected from 7 days before the rats were induced to cerebral IRI model with middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) method. At 24 h after reperfusion, neurological deficits and the total infarct volume were determined. The levels of inflammation-associated cytokines (interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, myeloperoxidase (MPO), and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α), oxidative stress-related proteins (malondialdehyde (MDA) and superoxide dismutase (SOD)) in the ischemic brain were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Besides, the levels of apoptosis-related proteins (p-53, Bax, and B-cell lymphoma (Bcl)-2) and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway (phosphorylation-extracellular signal-regulated kinase (p-ERK), p-c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK), and p-p38) were measured. Results showed that administration of fucoidan significantly reduced the neurological deficits and infarct volume compared to the IRI+S group in a dose-dependent manner. Also, fucoidan statistically decreased the levels of inflammation-associated cytokines, and oxidative stress-related proteins, inhibited apoptosis, and suppressed the MAPK pathway. So, Fucoidan plays a protective role in cerebral IRI might be by inhibition of MAPK pathway.
Subject(s)
Animals , Rats , Apoptosis , Brain , Cytokines , Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay , Infarction, Middle Cerebral Artery , Interleukin-6 , Lymphoma, B-Cell , Methods , Peroxidase , Phosphotransferases , Protein Kinases , Rats, Sprague-Dawley , Reperfusion , Reperfusion Injury , Superoxide Dismutase , Tumor Necrosis Factor-alphaABSTRACT
[Objective] To evaluate the clinical curative effect of a combined protocol using Chinese herbal medicine and acupuncture for chronic gastritis.[Methods] 23 patients used the Chinese medicine only(group 1)and 65 patients received the combined protocol(2).Clinical symptoms and gastroscopic findings before and after treatment were recorded and analyzed.[Results] The clinical symptoms improved greatly in 15 of the group 1,with an overall curative rate 65%,and in 62 of the group 2 with an overall curative rate 95%.The difference between the 2 groups was significant.[Conclusion] The combined use of Chinese medicine and the needle medicine is preferable to single use of Chinese medicine for chronic gastritis.