title: Neuroprotective effects of Ilexonin A following transient focal cerebral ischemia in rats.
abstract: Ilexonin A is a compound isolated from the root of a plant commonly used in traditional Chinese medicine. The aim of the present study was to investigate the possible protective mechanism of Ilexonin A in rats subjected to occlusion of the middle cerebral artery (MCAO). Transient focal cerebral ischemia was induced by 2 h of MCAO, followed by reperfusion. Ilexonin A at doses of 20, 40 and 80 mg/kg were administered via intraperitoneal injection immediately following ischemia/reperfusion. The expression levels of glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), ionized calcium‑binding adapter molecule‑1 (Iba‑1), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), fetal liver kinase‑1 (Flk‑1) and Nestin were examined using immunostaining and Western blot analysis of the peri‑infarct region following ischemia/reperfusion. Ilexonin A significantly decreased the infarct volume and improved neurological deficits in a dose‑dependent manner. The expression levels of VEGF, Flk‑1 and Nestin were significantly increased in the rats treated with Ilexonin A, compared with the rats administered with saline. Following treatment with Ilexonin A, a higher number of GFAP‑positive astrocytes were found in the Ilexonin A‑treated rats at 1, 3 and 7 days, compared with the rats exposed to ischemia only, however, there were fewer astrocytes at 14 days, compared with the ischemia group. Ilexonin A significantly decreased the protein expression of Iba‑1. The results of the present study suggested that the protective effects of Ilexonin A were associated with revascularization, neuronal regeneration, and the regulation of astrocyte and microglia cell activation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, The Affiliated Union Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, Fujian 350001, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Ai-Ling
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.affiliation: Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, The Affiliated Union Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, Fujian 350001, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Guan-Yi
authors.initials: GY
authors.lastname: Zheng
authors.affiliation: Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, The Affiliated Union Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, Fujian 350001, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Zhi-Jian
authors.initials: ZJ
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Burns Institute of the Affliated Union Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, Fujian 350001, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Xiao-Dong
authors.initials: XD
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Burns Institute of the Affliated Union Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, Fujian 350001, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Qiong
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Jiang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001253:Astrocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D020520:Brain Infarction / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005904:Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D002546:Ischemic Attack, Transient / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D017628:Microglia / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009930:Organic Chemicals / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D051381:Rats; D015427:Reperfusion Injury / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D005904:Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; D009930:Organic Chemicals; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; C043587:ilexonin A