title: Protective effects of allicin against ischemic stroke in a rat model of middle cerebral artery occlusion.
abstract: Allicin, a molecule predominantly responsible for the pungent odor and the antibiotic function of garlic, exhibits various pharmacological activities and has been suggested to be beneficial in the treatment of various disorders. The present study aimed to elucidate the effect of allicin in cerebral ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury in rats. Rats were subjected to 1.5 h of transient middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO), followed by 24 h of reperfusion. Rats were randomly assigned to the sham surgery group, the MCAO group and the MCAO + allicin group. Neurological score, cerebral infarct size, brain water content, neuronal apoptosis, serum tumor necrosis factor (TNF)‑α and myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity were measured. The results suggested that allicin reduced cerebral infarction area, brain water content, neuronal apoptosis, TNF‑α levels and MPO activity in the serum. The results of the present study indicated that allicin protects the brain from cerebral I/R injury, which may be ascribed to its anti‑apoptotic and anti‑inflammatory effects.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150086, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Benping
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150086, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Feng
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Center for Neuroscience, Medical College of Shantou University, Shantou, Guangdong 515041, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Weijiang
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.affiliation: Department of Ultrasound, The Affiliated Tumor Hospital, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150086, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Jiebing
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150086, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Qingsong
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150086, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Weizhi
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology; D001929:Brain Edema / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004220:Disulfides; D005737:Garlic / Q000737:chemistry; D020244:Infarction, Middle Cerebral Artery / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D009195:Peroxidase / Q000097:blood; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D015427:Reperfusion Injury / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology; D013441:Sulfinic Acids / Q000737:chemistry / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D004220:Disulfides; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; D013441:Sulfinic Acids; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; C006452:allicin; D009195:Peroxidase