Protective effects of a novel herbal decoction on focal cerebral ischemia in a rodent model.
BACKGROUND
Herbs have been used to treat stroke and coma patient in traditional Korean medicine (TKM). The novel decoction, Guhpoongchungsimhwan (GCH), was developed on the basis of clinical data and TKM theory.


METHODS
We examined the neuroprotective effect of GCH on cerebral ischemia. The middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) model was used to produce cerebral ischemia in Sprague-Dawley rats. Subjects were treated with GCH (50 or 200 mg/kg) or vehicle alone (controls) 0 and 2 hours after MCAO. The functional status was tested 24 hours after MCAO by neurological examination (clinical score) and by series of motor function tasks (foot placement and parallel bar crossing).


RESULTS
The infarct volume was determined by 2,3,5-triphenyltetrazolium chloride staining 24 hours after surgery, and the expression of cyclooxygenase-2 was determined by immunohistochemistry. The clinical score of the GCH-treated group (200 mg/kg) was significantly lower than that of the control group (p<0.05), indicating fewer neurological deficits. The impairment of motor functions induced by MCAO was significantly reduced by the administration of GCH (p<0.05). The infarct volume was significantly smaller in the GCH-treated group (203.1 +/- 40.2 mm(3), p<0.05), as compared to the control group (377.8 +/- 32.6 mm(3)). The level of motor function in the GCH-treated group was associated with reduced infarct volume. In the analysis of immunohistochemistry, GCH treatment markedly inhibited the ischemia-induced expression of PTGS2 (prostaglandin-endoperoxidase synthase 2) or cyclooxygenase 2 (COX2), which plays an important role in ischemic neuronal cell death.


CONCLUSIONS
The results showed that GCH reduced the infarct size and the functional deficits in MCAO rats.
Kim
Myung-Gyou
MG
College of Pharmacy, Woosuk University, Wanju 565-701, Korea.
Choi
Jae-Hwan
JH
Lim
Jong-Pil
JP
Kim
Dae-Keun
DK
Shin
Tae-Yong
TY
Boo
Yungmin
Y
Kim
Sun-Yeou
SY
Kim
Hocheol
H
Ha
Eunyoung
E
Park
Hun-Kuk
HK
Kim
Jeongseon
J
Lim
Ha-Sup
HS
Kim
Ee-Hwa
EH
Kim
Jeung-Beum
JB
Leem
Kang-Hyun
KH
D000818:Animals; D020520:Brain Infarction / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D002545:Brain Ischemia / Q000209:etiology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2 / Q000378:metabolism; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D015870:Gene Expression / Q000187:drug effects; D029001:Herbal Medicine / Q000379:methods*; D020244:Infarction, Middle Cerebral Artery / Q000150:complications; D008297:Male; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D009460:Neurologic Examination / Q000379:methods; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011597:Psychomotor Performance / Q000187:drug effects; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D013997:Time Factors
D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2