title: The protective role of oxymatrine on neuronal cell apoptosis in the hemorrhagic rat brain.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Oxymatrine is extracted from the traditional Chinese herb Sophora flavescens Ait, possesses anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidative and anti-apoptotic properties, and has been used for the treatment of chronic viral hepatitis and many other diseases.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This study aimed to investigate the effects of oxymatrine on inflammatory response mediated by Toll-like receptor4 (TLR4) and nuclear factor kappa-B (NF-κB), oxidative injury induced by 12/15 lipoxygenase (12/15-LOX), phosphorylated p38 mitogen activated protein kinase (phosphor-p38 MAPK) and cytosolic phospholipase A2 (cPLA2), and neuronal cell apoptosis in rat brain with intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH).
  
  
  METHODS
  Wistar rats were treated intraperitoneally with 60 or 120mg/kg of oxymatrine daily for 5 days following ICH. The rats were sacrificed at hour 2, 6, 12, 24, 48, 72, and 120 after ICH. The gene expressions of TLR-4 and NF-κB, the levels of TNF-alpha, interleukin-1beta, interleukin-6, 12/15-LOX, phospho-p38 MAPK and cPLA2, and the number of apoptotic neuronal cells in rat brain were determined.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Oxymatrine at 120mg/kg significantly suppressed gene expressions of TLR-4 and NF-κB, decreased levels of TNF-alpha, interleukin-1beta and interleukin-6, inhibited synthesis of 12/15-LOX, phospho-p38 MAPK and cPLA2 protein, and mitigated apoptotic neuronal changes following ICH in rat.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Oxymatrine at 120mg/kg following ICH inhibits inflammatory responses, oxidative injury, and neuronal cell apoptosis in rats.
authors: Department of Intensive Care Unit, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, College of Medicine, Zhejiang University, 3 Qingchun East Road, Hangzhou 310000, China.
authors: Man
authors: M
authors: Huang
authors: Yue-Yu
authors: YY
authors: Hu
authors: Xiao-Qiao
authors: XQ
authors: Dong
authors: Qiu-Ping
authors: QP
authors: Xu
authors: Wen-Hua
authors: WH
authors: Yu
authors: Zu-Yong
authors: ZY
authors: Zhang
mesh_terms: D000470:Alkaloids / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000818:Animals; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001921:Brain / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D002543:Cerebral Hemorrhage / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015870:Gene Expression / Q000187:drug effects; D018836:Inflammation Mediators / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D016328:NF-kappa B / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects*; D008517:Phytotherapy; D011807:Quinolizines / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D029909:Sophora / Q000737:chemistry*; D051197:Toll-Like Receptor 4 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D000093842:Matrines
chemical_list: D000470:Alkaloids; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D018836:Inflammation Mediators; D016328:NF-kappa B; D011807:Quinolizines; D051197:Toll-Like Receptor 4; C495347:Tlr4 protein, rat; C037573:oxymatrine; D000093842:Matrines