Neuroprotective Effects of Hesperidin on Cerebral Vasospasm After Experimental Subarachnoid Hemorrhage in Rats: Biochemical, Pathologic, and Histomorphometric Analysis

COG133 Attenuates the Early Brain Injury Induced by Blood-Brain Barrier Disruption in Experimental Subarachnoid Hemorrhage

Subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) is a kind of severe hemorrhagic stroke, and early brain injury acted as one of the main causes of death and delayed neurological deficit in patients with subarachnoid hemorrhage. In this process, the function and structural integrity of the blood-brain barrier play an important role. In this study, we have observed whether the apolipoprotein E (apoE) mimetic peptide, COG133, can alleviate early brain injury after subarachnoid hemorrhage. For this purpose, an experimental subarachnoid hemorrhage model was constructed in mice and treated by intravenous injection of COG133 at a dosage of 1 mg/kg. Then, the function and integrity of the blood-brain barrier were detected, and the pyroptosis level of the neuron was determined. The results showed that COG133 could protect blood-brain barrier function and structure integrity, reduce early brain injury, and ameliorate neurological function after subarachnoid hemorrhage. In terms of molecular mechanism, COG133 inhibits blood-brain barrier destruction through the proinflammatory CypA-NF-κB-MMP9 pathway and reduces neuronal pyroptosis by inhibiting NLRP3 inflammasome activation. In conclusion, this study demonstrated that apoE-mimetic peptide, COG133, can play a neuroprotective role by protecting blood-brain barrier function and inhibiting brain cell pyroptosis to reduce early brain injury after subarachnoid hemorrhage.

Hesperidin protects against the chlorpyrifos-induced chronic hepato-renal toxicity in rats associated with oxidative stress, inflammation, apoptosis, autophagy, and up-regulation of PARP-1/VEGF

In this study, we investigated the effects of hesperidin (HSP) on oxidants/antioxidants status, inflammation, apoptotic, and autophagic activity in hepato-renal toxicity induced by chronic chlorpyrifos (CPF) exposure in rats. We used a total of 35 male albino rats in five groups of seven: control, HSP 100, CPF, CPF + HSP50, and CPF + HSP100. After rats were sacrificed, blood, liver, and kidney samples were collected. Serum levels of aspartate aminotransferases (ALT and AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), creatinine, and urea were tested. Then, contents of the superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), malondialdehyde (MDA), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), and glutathione (GSH) were measured to detect the level of oxidative stress in rat liver and renal tissues. We measured inflammatory and autophagy markers of chlorpyrifos induced oxidative stress in the liver and kidney tissues including TNF-α, iNOS, IL-1 β, COX-2, NF-κB, MAPK14, and Beclin-1 using ELISA. Histopathological findings were also examined followed by immunohistochemical determination of 8-OHdG expression. Real-time PCR (RT-PCR) was used to examine Cas-3, Bax, Bcl-2, PARP-1, and VEGF, which are associated with apoptosis, autophagy, DNA, and endothelial damage, respectively. In addition, PARP-1 activity was supported by western blot and immunofluorescence, VEGF activity was supported by western blot methods. Treatment with HSP reduced the effect of CPF on ALT, AST, ALP, and total proteins, and increased its effect on tissue antioxidants. PARP/VEGF, apoptotic, pro-apoptotic, anti-apoptotic, and autophagic gene expressions were regulated, and Caspase-3 and Bax expressions were decreased; Bcl-2 expression increased in both the liver and kidney samples, and positivity of 8-OHdG and PARP-1 were reduced in the CPF plus HSP-treated group. Overall, the study demonstrates that HSP may reduce the effects of hepato-renal toxicity caused by CPF by regulating oxidative stress, inflammation, apoptosis, autophagy, and PARP/VEGF genes at biochemical, cellular, and molecular levels.

From Preclinical Stroke Models to Humans: Polyphenols in the Prevention and Treatment of Stroke

Polyphenols are an important family of molecules of vegetal origin present in many medicinal and edible plants, which represent important alimentary sources in the human diet. Polyphenols are known for their beneficial health effects and have been investigated for their potential protective role against various pathologies, including cancer, brain dysfunctions, cardiovascular diseases and stroke. The prevention of stroke promoted by polyphenols relies mainly on their effect on cardio- and cerebrovascular systems. However, a growing body of evidence from preclinical models of stroke points out a neuroprotective role of these molecules. Notably, in many preclinical studies, the polyphenolic compounds were effective also when administered after the stroke onset, suggesting their possible use in promoting recovery of patients suffering from stroke. Here, we review the effects of the major polyphenols in cellular and in vivo models of both ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke in immature and adult brains. The results from human studies are also reported.

Neuroprotective effects of quercetin on cerebral vasospasm following experimental subarachnoid haemorrhage in rats

Background/aim

We examined the protective effects of the natural flavonoid, quercetin, against cerebral vasospasm in an experimental rat subarachnoid haemorrhage (SAH) model.

Materials and methods

Thirty-eight albino Wistar rats were divided into five groups as follows: group 1 (G1, n=8), no experimental intervention; group 2 (G2, n=8), subarachnoid physiological saline; group 3 (G3, n=8), SAH; group 4 (G4, n=7) SAH and low-dose (10 mg/kg) quercetin treatment; group 5 (G5, n=7), SAH and high-dose (50 mg/kg) quercetin treatment. Subarachnoid haemorrhage was induced by injection of 0.15 cc of autologous blood taken from the tail artery into the cisterna magna from the craniocervical junction and basilar arteries and blood samples were taken for biochemical and histopathological analyses.

Results

Malondialdehyde (MDA) levels were significantly higher in G2 and G3 than in G1 (P < 0.05). Significant decreases in MDA were observed in G4 and G5 compared with G2 (P < 0.05, G4–G2; P < 0.05, G5–G2). There were no significant differences between G2 and G3 or among G1, G4, and G5. No statistically significant differences were found in total antioxidant capacity between the groups (P > 0.05). There were no significant differences in basilar artery (BA) wall thickness between G3 and G4 or between G3 and G5, but G4 and G5 showed greater luminal diameters than G3 (P < 0.05). There were no significant differences in BA thickness or luminal diameter between G4 and G5.

Conclusion

Our results suggested that quercetin may be beneficial in SAH therapy by preventing vasospasm.

Cerebroprotective Potential of Hesperidin Nanoparticles Against Bilateral Common Carotid Artery Occlusion Reperfusion Injury in Rats and In silico Approaches

Cerebral ischemia-reperfusion (C I/R) accelerates neuronal injury through the overproduction of reactive oxygen species due to mitochondrial dysfunction. Hesperidin has cerebroprotective effects due to its antioxidant and anti-apoptotic nature against oxidative damage caused by C I/R. The blood-brain barrier also limits the hesperidin passage into the cerebral region due to its poor bioavailability. Current research included analysis of binding energy, hesperidin inhibitory constant on inflammatory cytokines (TNF α, IL 6) and apoptotic protein (caspase 3), hesperidin nanoparticles prepared, and investigation of their defense against C I/R rats. Binding energy and IC₅₀ of hesperidin on pathological proteins using AutoDoc. 1.5.6 and PyRx in silico tools were compared with thalidomide. The fabrication method was engaged in the preparing of nano-hesperidin, characterized by SEM assessment. Bilateral common carotid artery occlusion technique has been used in experimental rats to cause C I/R. Nano-hesperidin cerebroprotective activity was assessed by differing infarction magnitude, oxidative stress parameters, TNF α and IL 6, and hippocampal histopathology with rats treated with unformulated hesperidin. Hesperidin found stronger binding strength and IC₅₀ was relative to thalidomide on TNF α, IL 6, and caspase 3. Nano-hesperidin with a size of 100-500 nm was shown in a uniform nano-size and spherical form. Nano-hesperidin-treated rats showed significantly increased glutathione (p < 0.00***), catalase (p < 0.01**), and total protein (p < 0.001***), and decreased cerebral infarction size, TNF α (p < 0.01**), IL 6 (p < 0.01**), and malondialdehyde (p < 0.05*), compared with hesperidin-treated ischemic rats. Therefore, hesperidin nanoparticles may confer protection to the neurons against ischemic injury compared with hesperidin treatment.