Abstract
Stroke is the third leading cause of
mortality and disability in industrial countries.
Treatment with herbs with
antioxidant properties has been reported to be an alternative to the conventional
treatments. This study was conducted to investigate the effect of
Anchusa italica extract on hippocampal
injury induced by
transient global
cerebral ischemia and
reperfusion in the
rat. To do so, 50
rats were randomly assigned to five groups; control, sham,
ischemia, and 50 or 100 mg/kg of
Anchusa italica treated
animals.
Ischemia was induced by occlusion of
carotid artery for 30 minutes. Afterward,
behavioral tests and biochemical analyses were conducted. Induction of
ischemia/
reperfusion caused a decline in
learning and passive avoidance
memory in
rats. Moreover,
Anchusa italica caused an increase in
learning and improved the passive avoidance
memory. Induction of
ischemia/
reperfusion caused a decrease in the
antioxidant capacity of the
brain and
serum as well as an increase in the
malondialdehyde of the
brain and
serum.
Anchusa italica led to an increase in the
antioxidant capacity of the
brain and
serum and decrease in the
malondialdehyde of the
brain and
serum. Overall, because of its protective effects on
spatial memory, passive
avoidance learning,
antioxidant capacity, and
lipid peroxidation during
ischemia/
reperfusion,
Anchusa italica might be beneficial in ischemic
patients.