ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To investigate the protective effects of the effective components group of Xiao-Xu-Ming decoction (XXM) on focal cerebral ischemia rats. METHODS: The model of focal cerebral ischemia was made by middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) with nylon suture. The neuroethological score and the staying time on slope board were gotten after 48 h of the operation. The percentage of cerebral infarction volume to total brain volume was calculated by TTC staining. Furthermore, the content of MDA, the activities of SOD and GSH-Px, and the activity of NOS in the brain tissue were detected by photospectrometer analysis system. RESULTS: The effective components group of Xiao-Xu-Ming decoction could significantly reduce the scores of neurological deficits , alleviate the cerebral infarction volume, improve the activity of SOD, reduce the content of MDA, and decrease the activity of iN-OS, but have no effect on the activity of GSH-Px. CONCLUSION: The effective components group of Xiao-Xu-Ming decoction may attenuate the focal cerebral ischemia injury in rats, and the mechanism is related to regulate the balance between oxidation and anti-oxidation and decrease the activity of iNOS in the brain tissue. Copyright 2012 by the Chinese Pharmaceutical Association.