title: Neuroprotective effect of humic Acid on focal cerebral ischemia injury: an experimental study in rats.
abstract: Stroke is still a major cause of death and permanent neurological disability. As humic acids are well-known antioxidant molecules, the purpose of this study was to investigate the potential neuroprotective effects of humic acid in a focal cerebral ischemia model. Twenty-four rats were divided equally into three groups. A middle cerebral artery occlusion model was performed in this study where control (group II) and humic acid (group III) were administered intraperitoneally following an ischemic experimental procedure. Group I was evaluated as sham. Malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and nuclear respiratory factor-1 (NRF-1) levels were analyzed biochemically on the right side of the ischemic cerebral hemisphere, while ischemic histopathological studies were completed on the left side to investigate the antioxidant status. Biochemical results showed that SOD and NRF-1 levels were significantly increased in the humic acid group (III) compared with the control group (II) while MDA levels were significantly decreased. On histopathological examination, cerebral edema, vacuolization, degeneration, and destruction of neural elements were decreased in the humic acid group (III) compared with the control group (II). Cerebral ischemia was attenuated by humic acid administration. These observations indicate that humic acid may have potential as a therapeutic agent in cerebral ischemia by preventing oxidative stress.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Faculty of Medicine, Çanakkale 18 Mart University, Kepez, Çanakkale, Turkey, dradileozkan@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Adile
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ozkan
authors.forename: Halil Murat
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Sen
authors.forename: Ibrahim
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Sehitoglu
authors.forename: Hasan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Alacam
authors.forename: Mustafa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Guven
authors.forename: Adem Bozkurt
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Aras
authors.forename: Tarik
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Akman
authors.forename: Coşkun
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Silan
authors.forename: Murat
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cosar
authors.forename: Handan Isin Ozisik
authors.initials: HI
authors.lastname: Karaman
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002545:Brain Ischemia / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006812:Humic Substances; D018836:Inflammation Mediators / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D006812:Humic Substances; D018836:Inflammation Mediators; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents