title: Hawthorn extract reduces infarct volume and improves neurological score by reducing oxidative stress in rat brain following middle cerebral artery occlusion.
abstract: In our present investigation the neuroprotective effect of alcoholic extract of Hawthorn (Crataegus oxycantha) was evaluated against middle cerebral artery occlusion induced ischemia/reperfusion injury in rats. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were pretreated with 100 mg/kg body weight of the extract by oral gavage for 15 days. The middle cerebral artery was then occluded for 75 min followed by 24 h of reperfusion. The pretreated rats showed significantly improved neurological behavior with reduced brain infarct when compared to vehicle control rats. The glutathione level in brain was found to be significantly (p<0.05) low in vehicle control rats after 24 h of reperfusion when compared to sham operated animals. However, in Hawthorn extract pretreated rats the levels were found to be close to that of sham. Malondialdehyde levels in brain of sham and pretreated group were found to be significantly lower than the non-treated vehicle group (p<0.05). The nitric oxide levels in brain were measured and found to be significantly (p<0.05) higher in vehicle than in sham or extract treated rats.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results suggest that Hawthorn extract which is a well known prophylactic for cardiac conditions may very well protect the brain against ischemia-reperfusion. The reduced brain damage and improved neurological behavior after 24 h of reperfusion in Hawthorn extract pretreated group may be attributed to its antioxidant property which restores glutathione levels, circumvents the increase in lipid peroxidation and nitric oxide levels thereby reducing peroxynitrite formation and free radical induced brain damage.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, University of Madras, Guindy Campus, Chennai 600 025, Tamil Nadu, India.
authors.forename: Chinnasamy
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Elango
authors.forename: Kasevan Sawaminathan
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Jayachandaran
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Niranjali Devaraj
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D020520:Brain Infarction / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D027825:Crataegus / Q000737:chemistry*; D005978:Glutathione / Q000378:metabolism; D020244:Infarction, Middle Cerebral Artery / Q000188:drug therapy*; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D008315:Malondialdehyde / Q000378:metabolism; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000378:metabolism; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects*; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; D010936:Plant Extracts; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D008315:Malondialdehyde; D005978:Glutathione