Pien-Tze-Huang protects cerebral ischemic injury by inhibiting neuronal apoptosis in acute ischemic stroke rats

Publication date: 12 June 2018
Source:Journal of Ethnopharmacology, Volume 219
Author(s): Xiaoqin Zhang, Yiping Zhang, Songqi Tang, Lishuang Yu, Youqin Zhao, Qiangqiang Ren, Xiaoqiang Huang, Wen Xu, Mingqing Huang, Jun Peng
Ethnopharmacological relevancePien-Tze-Huang (PZH) is a famous formula of traditional Chinese medicine used to treating stroke. However, the protective effect of PZH and its mechanisms in acute ischemic stroke remain to be explored.Aim of the studyTo investigate the protective effect of PZH on neuronal apoptosis in acute cerebral ischemic injury rats and explore its underlying mechanisms.Materials and methodsThe effects of PZH were studied in acute ischemic stroke rats induced by transient middle cerebral artery occlusion, and the mitochondria-mediated apoptotic proteins including cytochrome C (Cyt C), Bax, Bcl-xl, P53, caspase-3, and caspase-9 as well as AKT and glycogen synthase kinase-3 beta (GSK-3β) were assessed.ResultsFour days of PZH treatment (180 mg/kg) could significantly reduce cerebral infarct volume, improve neurological deficit, attenuate inflammatory response, and inhibit neuronal apoptosis in acute ischemic stroke rats. Moreover, PZH treatment significantly decreased cytosolic Cyt C, Bax, P53, cleaved caspase-3, and cleaved caspase-9 levels, but elevated mitochondrial Cyt C and Bcl-xl levels. PZH treatment also increased phosphorylation of AKT and GSK-3β.ConclusionPZH potently protects the brain from cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury in vivo, and inhibiting mitochondria-mediated neuronal apoptosis as well as attenuating inflammatory responses may be involved in this effect. This study provides experimental basis of PZH in treating acute cerebral ischemic stroke, which would provide some novel insights for its prevention and treatment of ischemic stroke.

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