Dose-Dependent Effects of Astaxanthin on Ischemia/Reperfusion Induced Brain Injury in MCAO Model Rat.

Excitotoxicity and oxidative stress are central to the pathology of the nervous system, and inhibition of excitotoxicity induced by glutamate is one of the therapeutic goals determined for stroke. The present study aimed to investigate the effects of Astaxanthin, a potent natural antioxidant, on complications caused by acute cerebral stroke. In this research, 60 male Wistar rats were used which were divided into 5 groups as follow: (1) the sham group (vehicle), (2) the ischemic control group (vehicle), and the ischemic groups treated by Astaxanthin with doses of 25, 45, and 65 mg/kg. In the ischemic groups, ischemic model was performed by middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) method, and the Astaxanthin administration was carried out after the artery occlusion and before opening the artery. The obtained results indicated that Astaxanthin could significantly reduce stroke volume, neurological deficits, and lipid peroxidation. Moreover, it was able to restore total oxidant status (TOS) and caspase 3 level to the normal level. The activity of antioxidant enzyme glutathione peroxidase (GPX), and the expression of catalase, GPx and nuclear factor kappa B (NFκb) genes, which were reduced after ischemia, were increased. This phenomenon was particularly pronounced for glutamate transporter 1 (GLT-1). Furthermore, Astaxanthin decreased the augmented pro-apoptotic gene Bax and restored the reduced Bcl2 expression to the normal level. Significant effects on the P53 and PUMA expression were not observed. Overall, the medium dosage of Astaxanthin appears to be more effective in reducing the complications of ischemia, particularly on our major study endpoints (stroke volume and neurological defects). Longer studies with a more frequent administration of Astaxanthin are required to better understand the precise mechanism of Astaxanthin.

Short-term Effects of Date Palm Extract (Phoenix dactylifera) on Ischemia/Reperfusion Injury Induced by Testicular Torsion/Detorsion in Rats.

BACKGROUND: Antioxidants are potent scavengers of free radicals and have beneficial effects on human health. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate the potential protective antioxidant activity of the edible portion of date fruit extract in an experimental testicular torsion/detorsion (T/D) model in rats. MATERIALS AND METHODS: To investigate the potential protective effects of date palm (DP), 30 male Spraque-Dawley rats were divided into three groups: sham-operated, T/D, and T/D + DP-treated (500 mg/kg, PO) groups. Testicular ischemia was induced via keeping the left testis under 720° clockwise torsion for 2 h (h), afterward, detorsion was performed. All rats were sacrificed 4 h after detorsion. Serum malondialdehyde (MDA) concentration, total oxidative status (TOS), total antioxidant status (TAS), oxidative stress index (OSI), and histopathological damage score were evaluated. RESULTS: Serum MDA, TOS, and OSI levels rose significantly in the T/D group. These values were lower in the T/D + DP group. TAS values decreased significantly in T/D group and rose in T/D + DP group. Severe injury was seen in the twisted testes of T/D group. In contrast, ipsilateral-twisted testicular tissue in the DP-treated group showed moderate-to-mild changes. Contralateral testicular tissue in the T/D group had a mild-to-moderate tissue injury; meanwhile, treated group revealed normal-to-mild changes. Spermatogenesis was significantly improved in DP-treated group when compared with the T/D group. CONCLUSION: The findings suggest a possible protective effect of DP against testicular oxidative damage induced by T/D; however, more detailed studies are warranted. SUMMARY: Given the presence of several phenolic compounds possessing high antioxidant activity in DP, it could potentially be used to reduce testis ischemia/reperfusion-induced damage. Abbreviations Used: TAS: Total antioxidant status,TOS: Total oxidative status; OSI: Oxidative stress index; MDA: Malondialdehyde; C: Congestion; H: Hemorrhage, E: Edema; SG: Sloughed germinal cells; SA: Spermatogenesis arrest; STD: Seminiferous tubules disorganization; STA: Seminiferous tubules atrophy; G: Giant cells; T/D: Torsion/detorsion; DP: Date palm.