Hydroxysafflor Yellow A Attenuates Lymphostatic Encephalopathy‐induced Brain Injury in Rats

Abstract

Hydroxysafflor yellow A (HSYA) is a main chemical component of the flower of Carthamus tinctorius. The present study investigated whether HSYA could attenuate brain injury induced by lymphostatic encephalopathy (LE). This was induced in adult male Wistar rats by cervical lymphatic blockade (CLB). Heart rate variability (HRV) was used as an indirect measurement of the regulatory function of the autonomic nervous system by recording the ECG signals from rats. It was shown that treatment with HSYA (5 mg/kg, i.p.) significantly alleviated the neurological deficits observed in rats with LE. Histological staining revealed that HSYA treatment attenuated LE-induced cell apoptosis in the rostral ventrolateral medullus (RVLM). Animals in the LE groups exhibited impaired regulatory roles of the autonomic nervous system in cardiovascular function, which was suppressed by pretreatment with HSYA. Additionally, HSYA administration significantly prevented the decrease of endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) mRNA and protein expression in the RVLM of rats with LE. These findings suggest that HSYA might provide neuroprotection against LE-induced brain injury and the associated functional alterations, which is likely regulated by the nitric oxide pathway.

A Metabolic Perspective and Opportunities in Pharmacologically Important Safflower

“…The injection of 30 µm HSYA in rat hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) showed inhibition of HSC activation and cell proliferation, indicating it is a potential candidate for the prevention and treatment of hepatic fibrogenesis [97]. The effects of HSYA on lymphostatic encephalopathy (LE) induced brain changes in rats, supporting HSYA for the treatment of lymphostatic encephalopathy [98]. The effects of a daily dose of HSYA (5 mg/kg) to rats subjected to biweekly carbon tetrachloride (CCl 4 ) injections over 12 weeks significantly reduced liver fibrosis, indicating HSYA is a promising anti-fibrotic agent for chronic liver disease [99].…”

Effects of extracts and isolated compounds from safflower on some index of promoting blood circulation and regulating menstruation

“…However, the present study was focused on investigating the pharmacological actions of safflower extraction and yellow pigment of safflower, monomer as hydroxysafflor yellow A and anhydrosafflor yellow B (Chen et al, 2000;Zang et al, 2002;Zhao et al, 2009b;Wang et al, 2009;Lin et al, 2011;Pan et al, 2012;Nie et al, 2012;. More studies ought to be explored on the pharmacological effects and possible mechanisms of other constituents isolated from safflower.…”

Hydroxysafflor Yellow A: A Promising Therapeutic Agent for a Broad Spectrum of Diseases

“…HSYA treatment markedly alleviated lymphostatic encephalopathy- (LE-) induced brain injury in rats by dramatically decreasing the neurological scores, attenuating histological changes especially cell apoptosis in the rostral ventrolateral medulla (RVLM) and reducing heart rate variability. Additionally, downregulation of endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) expression in both of mRNA and protein levels of the RVLM in LE rats were prevented by HYSA [ 56 ]. In the spinal cord compression injury rats, HSYA treatment significantly attenuated spinal cord edema and improved motor function outcomes in rats, and the potential mechanism of this action was through ameliorating extent of oxidative stress and preventing release of proinflammatory molecules with inhibition of NF- κ B [ 57 ].…”