RESUMO
Aim To study the protective effects of Rhynchophyll a of total alkaloids ( RTA ) on cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury and the possi ble mechanism of action. Methods The effects of RTA on decapit ated gasping model and model of middle cerebral artery ischemia 2 h/reperfusion 22 h were observed. The neurological scores, cerebral infarct volume and cerebr al water content after ischemia/reperfusion were observed in rats respectively. The activities of NOS and SOD and the content of MDA in rat's brain tissue were measured. Neuron apoptosis in ischemia penumbral area were detected by terminal depoxynucleotidyl transferase mediated dUTP-biotin nick end labeling ( TUNEL ) . Results The average gasping times in mice treated with RTA 50 , 75 mg?kg -1 was significantly prolonged. The cerebral infarct volume and cerebral water content in rats treated with RTA 40, 60 mg?kg -1 were sign ificantly decreased in ischemic rats. RTA 40, 60 mg?kg -1 increased the ac tivity of SOD ,and decreased the activity of NOS and the content of MDA in the i schemic brains of rats. The number of apoptotic neurons in ischemia penumbral ar ea of cerebral tissue of rats treated with RTA 40, 60 mg?kg -1 was signif icantly lower than that in control rats. Conclusions RTA has pr otective effect on cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury; this may be related to inhibit the activity of NOS and lipoperoxidation, and increasing the activity of SOD and decreasing neuron apoptosis.