Gynura procumbens has been used in Southeast Asia for the treatment of
hypertension,
hyperglycemia, and skin problems induced by ultraviolet irradiation. Although considerable studies have reported the biological properties of Gynura procumbens root extract (GPE-R), there are no studies on the effects of GPE-R in brain damages, for example following
brain ischemia. In the present study, we screened the
neuroprotective effects of GPE-R against ischemic damage and
neuroinflammation in the hippocampus based on behavioral, morphological, and biological approaches. Gerbils received
oral administration of GPE-R (30 and 300 mg/kg) every day for three weeks and 2 h after the last administration, ischemic surgery was done by occlusion of both common carotid arteries for 5 min. Administration of 300 mg/kg GPE-R significantly reduced
ischemia-induced locomotor hyperactivity 1 day after
ischemia. Significantly more NeuN-positive neurons were observed in the hippocampal CA1 regions of 300 mg/kg GPE-R-treated animals compared to those in the vehicle-treated group 4 days after
ischemia. Administration of GPE-R significantly reduced levels of pro-inflammatory
cytokines such as interleukin-1β, -6, and
tumor necrosis factor-α 6 h after
ischemia/reperfusion. In addition, activated microglia were significantly decreased in the 300 mg/kg GPE-R-treated group four days after
ischemia/reperfusion compared to the vehicle-treated group. These results suggest that GPE-R may be one of the possible agents to protect neurons from ischemic damage by reducing inflammatory responses.