Abstract
The most common causes of cerebrovascular disorders are ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury, stroke, and chronic hypo perfusion. Quercetin is a plant pigment that is reported to protect against stress. Objective: This research protocol was designed to evaluate the protective properties of quercetin in cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injuries. Method: Adult male rats were divided into four groups randomly (sham, quercetin, I/R, and I/R with quercetin). The induction of cerebral ischemia was done through the ligation of bilateral common carotid arteries for 30 minutes; then, reperfusion was allowed for four hours. Result: Quercetin ameliorates the harmful effect of I/R by reducing the oxidative stress. It reduced the high level of inflammatory cytokines, TNF-alpha and NF-kappa B, and improved the level of Bcl2. Conclusion: The present study reveals that quercetin protects the cerebral cortex against the injuries caused by I/R through its anti oxidative, anti-inflammatory and anti apoptotic effects. Furthermore, the results also suggest that the quercetin represents a hopeful therapy for neurological diseases due to oxidative stress and I/R.