Systemic administration of sunflower oil exerts neuroprotection in a mouse model of transient focal cerebral ischaemia

Abstract

Objectives Natural products are valuable sources of nutraceuticals for the prevention or treatment of ischemic stroke, a major cause of death and severe disability worldwide. Among the mechanisms implicated in cerebral ischemia-reperfusion damage, oxidative stress exerts a pivotal role in disease progression. Given the high antioxidant potential of most components of sunflower oil, we have explored its effects on ischemic brain injury produced in the mouse by transient occlusion of the middle cerebral artery (MCAo). Key findings Intraperitoneal (i.p.) administration of sunflower oil at doses of 3 ml/kg (48 h, 24 h and 1 h before MCAo) significantly reduced brain infarct volume and oedema assessed 24 h after the insult. This neuroprotective treatment schedule also prevented the elevation of brain lipid peroxidation produced by MCAo-reperfusion injury. By contrast, doses of 0.03 ml/kg of sunflower oil resulted ineffective on both cerebral damage and lipid peroxidation. Although sunflower oil did not affect serum levels of Diacron-reactive oxygen metabolites (d-ROMs), both 0.03 and 3 ml/kg dosing regimens resulted in the preservation of serum biological antioxidant potential (BAP) that was otherwise dramatically reduced 24 h after MCAo. Conclusions Sunflower oil represents a promising source of neuroprotective extracts/compounds that can be exploited for the prevention and/or treatment of cerebral ischemia.

Caloric Restriction Mitigates Kidney Fibrosis in an Aged and Obese Rat Model

“…Commonly studied epithelial and mesenchymal cell markers include: E-cadherin; cytokeratin; ZO-1; laminin-1; Entactin; Syndecan; Muc-1; Desmoplakin a1; miR200 [ 12 ]. Oxidative stress is an important inducer of renal fibrosis [ 16 ] and previous works have also demonstrated its direct involvement in cardiovascular risk [ 17 , 18 ], in brain ischemia [ 19 ], obesity [ 20 ] and the aging process [ 21 ] but also its protective role in preconditioning cell adaptative response [ 22 ]. Macrophages actively participate in the clearance of apoptotic and necrotic cells to determine damage and matrix remodeling to replace tissues from acute and chronic kidney disease [ 23 , 24 ] indeed they are known for their pathogenic role in renal inflammation and fibrosis.…”

Antarctic Fish as a Global Pollution Sensor: Metals Biomonitoring in a Twelve-Year Period

“…Plasma oxidative status was determined by using photometric measurement kits and a free radical analyzer system with a spectrophotometric device reader (FREE Carpe Diem, Diacron International, Grosseto, Italy), which are routinely used in our laboratory in both human and animal models ( Brunelli et al, 2017 ; La Russa et al, 2017 ; La Russa et al, 2019 ; Russa et al, 2019 ; La Russa et al, 2020 ; La Russa et al, 2021 ; Perri et al, 2021 ). Plasma oxidative stress was assayed using a Diacron-reactive oxygen metabolite (dROM) test.…”

High intake of sunflower seeds and low mortality from Alzheimer’s disease and dementia: is there a correlation?

“…The sunflower plant (Helianthus annuus L.) is a leading oilseed crop that is cultivated globally, primarily for its seeds [12][13][14]. This annual plant belongs to the family Asteraceae and is native to Middle American region [12,13,15].…”

“…The oil extracted from sunflower seeds is rich in unsaturated fatty acids (almost 90%), mostly oleic and linoleic acids, which can lower the risk for coronary artery disease through reducing the levels of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol and total cholesterol. The exact fatty acid composition can differ between cultivars and vary also with environmental conditions [12][13][14]. In addition, sunflower seeds contain a wide spectrum of vitamins, including vitamin E (tocopherols, predominantly α-tocopherol), niacin (vitamin B3), pyridoxine (vitamin B6), pantothenic acid (vitamin B5) and folic acid (vitamin B9) [12,13].…”