Total saponins of Panax notoginseng modulate the expression of caspases and attenuate apoptosis in rats following focal cerebral ischemia-reperfusion.
BACKGROUND
Total saponins of Panax notoginseng (TSPN), main constituents extracted from Panax Notoginseng, a highly valued traditional Chinese medicine, have been shown to be an effective agent on cerebral infarction.


OBJECTIVE
The effects of TSPN on apoptosis and expressions of caspase-1, caspase-3 and caspase-8 were studied after cerebral ischemia for 2 h followed by reperfusion for 46 h in rats.


METHODS
Rats were subjected to transient middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) model using the intraluminal thread. TSPN was administered intraperitoneally at 5 min before and 12 h, 24 h and 36 h after MCAO, respectively.


RESULTS
TSPN (at the dose of 25 mg/kg) significantly attenuated TUNEL-positive cells and reduced the expression of caspase-1 and caspase-3 compared to the model group, while it had no obvious effect on the expression of caspase-8.


CONCLUSIONS
The neuroprotective effect of TSPN on focal ischemia may be related to inhibition of apoptosis and caspases activation.
Li
Hua
H
Department of Histology and Embryology, Hunan University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Changsha, Hunan Province, PR China.
Deng
Chang-Qing
CQ
Chen
Bei-Yang
BY
Zhang
Shu-Ping
SP
Liang
Yan
Y
Luo
Xue-Gang
XG
D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects; D002545:Brain Ischemia / Q000188:drug therapy*; D061945:Caspase Inhibitors; D005260:Female; D020244:Infarction, Middle Cerebral Artery / Q000188:drug therapy; D008297:Male; D009553:Nimodipine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D053723:Panax notoginseng; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011897:Random Allocation; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D015427:Reperfusion Injury / Q000188:drug therapy*; D012503:Saponins / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014665:Vasodilator Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use
D061945:Caspase Inhibitors; D010936:Plant Extracts; D012503:Saponins; D014665:Vasodilator Agents; D009553:Nimodipine