Neuroprotective Effect of Alpha-asarone on the Rats Model of Cerebral Ischemia-Reperfusion Stroke via Ameliorating Glial Activation and Autophagy.

Abstract

Alpha-asarone, a major active component isolated from Acorus gramineus, can affect brain functions and behaviors by multiple mechanisms. However, the effect of alpha-asarone on cerebral ischemia-reperfusion (CIR) stroke has not been reported. The present study aimed to investigate the neuroprotective effect of alpha-asarone and the involved mechanisms against CIR stroke. Rats were subjected to middle cerebral occlusion (MCAO) for 2 h. Then the drug or drug-free vehicle was intravenously injected to corresponding groups. After reperfusion for 24 h, the infarct volume was evaluated by Triphenyl Tetrazolium Chloride (TTC) staining. The neurofunctional recovery and post-stroke epilepsy were evaluated. Nissl and Hematoxylin-Eosin (H&E) staining were used for histological observation. We investigated the protective mechanism of alpha-asarone against the stroke. The results showed that alpha-asarone exhibited a desirable neuroprotective effect, manifested as reducing infarct volume and post-stroke epilepsy and improving neurological function. Histological and flow cytometry analysis revealed that alpha-asarone treatment alleviated cell injury and apoptosis in vivo and in vitro. Furthermore, alpha-asarone decreased GFAP, Iba-1, and LC3II/LC3I expression and increased the expression of p62. These results suggested that alpha-asarone attenuated the CIR stroke injury via ameliorating glial activation and autophagy.

• Authors: Kun Zhang, Qi Liu, Lijun Luo, Xinqian Feng, Qinrui Hu, Xiangyu Fan, Shengjun Mao
• Journal: Neuroscience (Neuroscience) Vol. 473 Pg. 130-141 (10 01 2021) ISSN: 1873-7544 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 34416342 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
• Copyright: Copyright © 2021 IBRO. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Chemical References

• Allylbenzene Derivatives
• Anisoles
• Neuroprotective Agents
• asarone

Topics

• Allylbenzene Derivatives
• Animals
• Anisoles
• Apoptosis
• Autophagy
• Brain Ischemia (drug therapy)
• Infarction, Middle Cerebral Artery (complications, drug therapy)
• Neuroprotective Agents (pharmacology)
• Rats
• Reperfusion
• Reperfusion Injury (drug therapy)
• Stroke (drug therapy)