Inhibitory effect of β-aescin on inflammatory process following focal cerebral ischemia-reperfusion in rats / 中国药理学与毒理学杂志

ABSTRACT

AIM To investigate if the beneficial effects of β-aescin on ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) induced cerebral injury are related to the inhibition of expressions of pro-inflammatory cytokines. METHODS Rats were pretreated ig with β-aescin for 7 d and then subjected to cerebral I/R injury induced by a middle cerebral artery occlusion. The infarct volume and the neurological deficit were determined by the method of TTC staining and the Longa's score. The permeability of the blood-brain barrier was evaluated by measurement of the Evans blue (EB)content in the brain with spectrophotometer. The serum contents of interleukin-8 (IL-8) and tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α) protein were determined by radioimmunoassay and ELISA assay. The expression of nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) was evaluated with Western blot. RESULTS β-Aescin significantly reduced infarct volume (P<0.05 or P<0.01), ameliorated the neurological deficit and reduced the permeability of blood-brain barrier (P<0.05). Pretreated with β-aescin 30 and 60 mg·kg-1, the serum content of IL-8 and the expressions of TNF-α and NF-κB protein in brain tissue were significantly decreased (P<0.05). CONCLUSION β-Aescin has protective effects on cerebral injury through inhibiting the expression and release of the inflammatory mediators after I/R injury.