Ultrastructural changes, nuclear factor-kappaB activation, and tumor necrosis factor-alpha expression in brain after acute normovolemic hemodilution and controlled hypotension in rats

A highly bioavailable curcumin formulation ameliorates inflammation cytokines and neurotrophic factors in mice with traumatic brain injury

A novel curcumin formulation increases relative absorption by 46 times (CurcuWIN®) of the total curcuminoids over the unformulated standard curcumin form. However, the exact mechanisms by which curcumin demonstrates its neuroprotective effects are not fully understood. This study aimed to investigate the impact of a novel formulation of curcumin on the expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), a main component of the glial scar and growth-associated protein-43 (GAP-43), a signaling molecule in traumatic brain injury (TBI). Mice (adult, male, C57BL/6j) were randomly divided into three groups as follows: TBI group (TBI-induced mice); TBI + CUR group (TBI mice were injected i.p. curcumin just after TBI); TBI+ CurcuWIN® group (TBI mice were injected i.p. CurcuWIN® just after TBI). Brain injury was induced using a cold injury model. Injured brain tissue was stained with Cresyl violet to evaluate infarct volume and brain swelling, analyzed, and measured using ImageJ by Bethesda (MD, USA). Western blot analysis was performed to determine the protein levels related to injury. While standard curcumin significantly reduced brain injury, CurcuWIN® showed an even greater reduction associated with reductions in glial activation, NF-κB, and the inflammatory cytokines IL-1β and IL-6. Additionally, both standard curcumin and CurcuWIN® led to increased BDNF, GAP-43, ICAM-1, and Nrf2 expression. Notably, CurcuWIN® enhanced their expression more than standard curcumin. This data suggests that highly bioavailable curcumin formulation has a beneficial effect on the traumatic brain in mice.

Lutein protects against severe traumatic brain injury through anti‑inflammation and antioxidative effects via ICAM‑1/Nrf‑2

Many studies have reported that lutein may exert its biological activities, including anti‑inflammation, anti‑oxidase and anti‑apoptosis, through effects on reactive oxygen species (ROS). Thus, lutein may prevent the damaging activities of ROS in cells. The current study investigated the effect of lutein against severe traumatic brain injury (STBI) and examined the mechanism of this protective effect. Sprague‑Dawley rats were randomly divided into 5 groups: Control group, STBI model group, 40 mg/kg lutein‑treated group, 80 mg/kg lutein‑treated group and 160 mg/kg lutein‑treated group. In this study, lutein protects against STBI, suppressed, interleukin (IL)‑1β, IL‑6 and monocyte chemoattractant protein‑1 expression, reduced serum ROS levels, and reduced superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase activities in STBI rats. Treatment with lutein effectively downregulated the expression of NF‑κB p65 and cyclooxygenase‑2, intercellular adhesion molecule (ICAM)‑1 protein, and upregulated nuclear factor erythroid 2 like 2 (Nrf‑2) and endothelin‑1 protein levels in STBI rats. These findings demonstrated that lutein protects against STBI, has anti‑inflammation and antioxidative effects and alters ICAM‑1/Nrf‑2 expression, which may be a novel therapeutic for STBI the clinic.