Stroke is a leading cause of death and permanent disability in adults worldwide. Advanced glycation endproducts (AGEs) are known to be increased in several chronic diseases and induce inflammation and protein crosslinking. The current study was designed to investigate the protective effect of benfotiamine, perindopril (at a sub-hypotensive dose), and alagebrium on experimentally induced stroke in mice. All drugs were administered for 9 days starting one week before middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO). Benfotiamine, perindopril and alagebrium ameliorated the deleterious effects of MCAO as indicated by the improvement in the performance of the animals in behavior tests and the reduction in brain infarction. This was associated with normalization of the levels of receptor for advanced glycation end products (RAGE) and its soluble form sRAGE that were changed following MCAO. In addition, benfotiamine, perindopril and alagebrium corrected the upregulation in the downstream effectors TNF-α and VCAM-1. The results of the current study represent a new indication for benfotiamine, perindopril, alagebrium in the management of ischemic stroke.

Deltamethrin was thought to be one of the safest pyrethroid insecticides and is being used in agriculture and home appliances. Apigenin has several beneficial and pharmacological effects. It is a natural flavonoid that is found in many plants. Vitamin E, fat soluble vitamin, is a well known antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effect. The present study was performed to investigate the hepatoprotective effect of both apigenin and vitamin E against deltamethrin toxicity in rats. Administration of deltamethrin (5 mg/kg) orally for 30 days in rats revealed a significant increase in serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) levels while significantly decreased albumin level as compared to control rats. Furthermore, deltamethrin induced apoptotic markers including caspase-3 and first apoptosis signal receptor ligand (FAS-L). Concomitant administration of apigenin (10 or 20 mg/kg), vitamin E (100 mg/kg) or combination of both apigenin (20 mg/kg) in combination with vitamin E (100 mg/kg) for the same period normalized most of the altered biochemical parameters. These results suggest that apigenin and vitamin E administration can protect the liver from deltamethrin intoxication.