Abstract
Objective: The present study was carried out to evaluate the
neuroprotective effect of the aqueous extract of Embelia ribes , in
focal ischemic brain. Materials and Methods: Adult male Wistar albino
rats were fed with the aqueous extract of Embelia ribes (100 and 200
mg/kg, p.o.) for 30 days. After 30 days of feeding, all the animals
were anaesthetized with chloral hydrate (400 mg/kg, i.p.). The right
middle cerebral artery was occluded with a 4-0 suture for 2 h. The
suture was removed after 2 h, to allow reperfusion injury. The animals
were used for grip strength measurement, biochemical estimation in
serum and brain tissue (hippocampus and frontal cortex) and cerebral
infarct size measurement. Results: In the ischemic group, a
significant (P < 0.01) alteration in the markers of oxidative damage
(thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS); reduced glutathione
(GSH); glutathione peroxidase (GPx); glutathione reductase (GR); and,
glutathione-S-transferase (GST)) was observed in the hippocampus and
frontal cortex, as compared to sham operated rats. We observed that the
animals treated with the aqueous extract of Embelia ribes had a
significant (P < 0.01) increase in the poststroke grip strength
activity. Further, supplementation with aqueous extract of Embelia
ribes reversed the levels/activities of the above mentioned biochemical
parameters significantly (P< 0.01) and also resulted in decreased
cerebral infarct area, as compared to the ischemic group. Conclusion:
The results of our study, for the first time, provide clear evidence
that aqueous extract of Embelia ribes pretreatment ameliorates cerebral
ischemia/reperfusion injury and enhances the antioxidant defense
against middle cerebral artery occlusion-induced cerebral infarction in
rats; it exhibits neuroprotective property.