ABSTRACT
Objective To study the inhibition of iron-dependent lipid peroxidation(IDLPO)by apigenin on rat cerebral homogenate in vitro and to evaluate the neuroprotective effects of apigenin on acute transient focal cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury in rats.Methods In vitro IDLPO on rat cerebral homogenate was induced with ferrous sulfate,the incubation mixture was observed at three various concentration of apigenin and deferoxamine(DFX),and malondialdehyde(MDA)level was assayed by the 2-thiobarbituric acid(TBA)test.In vivo,the transient focal cerebral ischemia-reperfusion model in rats was established with insertion of thread embolish into middle cerebral artery.In experiment groups the neurological behavior scores,TTC stain of brain slices,and neurocyte morphology were observed.The homogenate of left hemisphere was collected for investigating the effect of apigenin on content of MDA and activity of superoxide dismutase(SOD)in 24,48,and 72 h.Results MDA was reduced in three various concentration of apigenin on rat cerebral homogenate(P0.05).In vivo,abnormal neurological behavior scores existed and typical cortical infarct lesions were found by TTC stain in both apigenin and model groups.An obvious intracellular and intercellular edema and vacuolization were found in the cerebral cortexes and hippocampuses in model group.There was karyopycnosis in glias and neurons.However lesion was alleviated in apigenin group.The MDA contents in both apigenin and model groups were increased greatly compared to ones of Sham-operated group,respectively(P