{Reference Type}: Journal Article
{Title}: Protective effect of Sheng-Nao-Kang decoction on focal cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury in rats.
{Author}: Chen L;Zhao Y;Zhang T;Dang X;Xie R;Li Z;Li Y;Li Y;Zhao W;Song H;
{Journal}: J Ethnopharmacol
{Volume}: 151
{Issue}: 1
{Year}: 2014
{Factor}: 5.195
{DOI}: 10.1016/j.jep.2013.10.015
{Abstract}: <B>BACKGROUND: </B>Sheng-Nao-Kang decoction (SNK), a modified traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), has been used clinically for the treatment of acute and chronic cerebrovascular related diseases. To evaluate the protective effect of SNK on focal cerebral ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury in rats and investigate the underlying mechanisms.<BR><B>METHODS: </B>Focal cerebral I/R injury in rats was induced by middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) for 2h followed by reperfusion for 24h. Adult male Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were randomly divided into six kinds of groups: Sham group; I/R group; SNK-treated groups at doses of 0.7 g/kg, 1.4 g/kg and 2.8 g/kg; and nimodipine (NMP)-treated group. The recoveries of neurological function in rats were estimated by neurological defect scoring and 2,3,5-triphenyltetrazolium chloride (TTC) staining after 24h reperfusion. Various biochemical indexes in serum were assayed by colorimetry, including malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and total nitric oxide synthase (TNOS). Histological structures of the brain in rats were observed by hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining. Immunohistochemistry was performed to detect the caspase-3 protein content in rats.<BR><B>RESULTS: </B>SNK administration significantly reduced the neurological defect scores and lessened the cerebral infarction volume. The treatment of SNK lowered MDA content, up-regulated SOD and GSH-Px levels, down-regulated iNOS and TNOS levels in serum. Furthermore, histological examination indicated that dense neuropil and largely surviving neurons were seen in SNK-treated rats. SNK administration restrained the expression of caspase-3 positive protein significantly.<BR><B>CONCLUSIONS: </B>The results suggest that SNK demonstrates a strong and ameliorative effect on cerebral I/R damage in rats. The protective mechanisms of SNK are associated with its properties of anti-apoptosis and anti-oxidation as well as regulation of iNOS and TNOS.