Leonurine protects ischemia-induced brain injury via modulating SOD, MDA and GABA levels

Abstract

The present study was designed to investigate the protective effects of leonurine, a compound purified from Herba Leonuri that is active on ischemic rat behavior and cortical neurons, and explore the underlying mechanism. The general rat activity, cortical neuron morphology, superoxide dismutase (SOD), malondialdehyde (MDA), gaminobutyric acid (GABA) and glutamate decarboxylase 67 (GAD67) levels were measured. We found leonurine significantly improve the general activity of rats in an open-field test, which was associated with attenuated neuronal damage induced by ischemia. Moreover, serum SOD activity was significantly greater, MDA level lower in the leonurine group as compared with ischemia group. In addition, GABA content in the cerebral cortex was significantly greater in high-dose leonurine group. Correspondingly, GAD67 protein level coincided with the GABA level. Taken together, our results demonstrated that leonurine attenuated brain injury during ischemia via antioxidative and anti-excitotoxicity effects by targeting GABA and leonurine might become a useful adjuvant neuroprotective agent.

Leonurine Reduces Oxidative Stress and Provides Neuroprotection against Ischemic Injury via Modulating Oxidative and NO/NOS Pathway

“…As shown in the previous description, ischemic brain injury was located in the frontal lobe, including the motor area and premotor area. The cerebral cortex was divided horizontally into six layers: the molecular, external granular, external pyramidal, internal granular, internal pyramidal and multiform layers [ 17 ]. Nissl staining results show, in the Sham, that dark blue stained granular Nissl bodies were mainly distributed around the cytoplasm of cortical neurons, with no obvious abnormality in histomorphology and were regularly arranged.…”

Inhibition of GABAAR or Application of Lactobacillus casei Zhang Alleviates Ulcerative Colitis in Mice: GABAAR as a Potential Target for Intestinal Epithelial Renewal and Repair

“…The apparatus was cleaned with 75% ethanol before the testing of each animal. The methodology used for the OFT was described previously [ 55 ]. The total distance of the mice moving in the open box and the time of staying in the central area within the 5 min was recorded; the sum of these two parameters was used to evaluate the general activity of the mice.…”

An enhanced expression of hypothalamic neuronal nitric oxide synthase in a rat model of simulated transport stress

“…The apparatus was cleaned with 70% ethanol before testing of each animal. The methodology used for the OFT was the same as that described previously [18]. Each rat was placed onto a corner square of the arena and allowed to explore the open field freely for 5 min per trial.…”