Mechanism of Chinese Medicine in Xingnao and Kaiqiao Against Cerebral Ischemia/Reperfusion Injury： A Review / 中国实验方剂学杂志

ABSTRACT

Cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury （CIRI） is a common feature and the main pathophysiological mechanism of ischemic stroke（IS）， which is caused by a blood reperfusion injury in ischemic brain tissues. It can aggravate brain tissue injury and cause irreversible brain damage， seriously affecting the quality of life or even the life of patients. Hence， we must find out the exact mechanism as well as the effective therapeutic drugs and targets for CIRI. The Chinese medicine effective in Xingnao （restoring consciousness） and Kaiqiao （opening orifices） has been widely used in the treatment of CIRI and serves as a classic therapy for IS. In recent years， scholars have conducted extensive and in-depth studies on the mechanism and therapeutic targets of Chinese medicine in Xingnao and Kaiqiao. They found that those drugs could interfere with a series of changes after IS and achieve the remarkable curative effect. This study summarized the effect and mechanism of Chinese medicine in Xingnao and Kaiqiao in the treatment of CIRI， including reducing the inflammatory response and oxidative stress， alleviating brain edema and the toxicity of excitatory amino acids， reducing cell apoptosis， promoting angiogenesis and neurovascular remodeling， and improving blood-brain barrier injury. It is expected to provide references to clarify the mechanism and important targets of those drugs in resisting CIRI and ideas for the in-depth investigation and application of brain protection of Chinese medicine in Xingnao and Kaiqiao.