Anti-apoptotic and anti-oxidative roles of quercetin after traumatic brain injury.
Experimental studies have demonstrated significant secondary damage (including cell apoptosis, blood-brain barrier disruption, inflammatory responses, excitotoxic damage, and free radical production) after traumatic brain injury (TBI). Quercetin is a natural flavonoid found in high quantities in fruits and vegetables, and may be a potential antioxidant and free radical scavenger. The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of quercetin on TBI-induced upregulation of oxidative stress, inflammation, and apoptosis in adult Sprague-Dawley rats. Animals were subjected to Feeney's weight-drop injury, thus inducing the parietal contusion brain injury model. Quercetin was administered (30 mg/kg intraperitoneal injection) 0, 24, 48, and 72 h after TBI. Quercetin reduced cognitive deficits, the number of TUNEL- and ED-1-positive cells, the protein expressions of Bax and cleaved-caspase-3 proteins, and the levels of TBARS and proinflammatory cytokines, and increased the activity of antioxidant enzymes (GSH-Px, SOD, and CAT) at 1 week after TBI. Our results suggest that in TBI rats, quercetin improves cognitive function owing to its neuroprotective action via the inhibition of oxidative stress, leading to a reduced inflammatory response, thereby reducing neuronal death.
Department of Neurosurgery, Chengdu Military General Hospital, No. 270, Rong Du Road, Chengdu, 610083, Sichuan, China.
Tao
T
Yang
Bin
B
Kong
Jian-Wen
JW
Gu
Yong-Qin
YQ
Kuang
Lin
L
Cheng
Wen-Tao
WT
Yang
Xun
X
Xia
Hai-Feng
HF
Shu
D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D016207:Cytokines / Q000378:metabolism; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005260:Female; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects*; D011794:Quercetin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley
D000975:Antioxidants; D016207:Cytokines; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; D011794:Quercetin