Objectives
Oxidative stress and inflammation have a critical role in the pathogenesis of ischaemic stroke. Alpha‐pinene is a monoterpenoid molecule with anti‐inflammatory and antioxidant properties. The nobility of the present study was to evaluate the neuroprotective effect of α‐pinene in ischaemic stroke.
Methods
Ischaemic stroke was induced by transient middle cerebral artery occlusion followed by 24 h reperfusion in male Wistar rats. Alpha‐pinene (25, 50 and 100 mg/kg, i.p.) was administered in the beginning of reperfusion. Then, the neurobehavioural function, infarct volume, brain oedema, antioxidant enzyme activity and the concentration of malondialdehyde (MDA), nitric oxide (NO) and interleukin‐6 (IL‐6) were evaluated by different methods in the brain.
Key findings
Alpha‐pinene (50 and 100 mg/kg) elicited a significant decrease in the brain oedema and infarct size as well as an improvement in the neurobehavioural function. Besides, α‐pinene (100 mg/kg) restored the function of superoxide dismutase, catalase and glutathione peroxidase and reduced the concentration of MDA, NO and IL‐6 in the hippocampus, cortex and striatum.
Conclusions
It was ultimately attainted that α‐pinene exerts neuroprotective effect in ischaemic stroke in rat through the restoration of antioxidant enzymes activity, attenuation of lipid peroxidation and reduction of inflammation in the ischaemic brains.
Ischemic stroke is a severe neurological disorder that affected millions of people worldwide. Recent studies have shown that alpha-pinene has antioxidant effects during cerebral ischemia. The present study investigated the probable protective effects of alpha-pinene on brain infarction and neurological disability after a transient model of focal cerebral ischemia/reperfusion in rats. Materials and Methods: 30adult male Wistar rats whose weight ranged from 250 to 350 g were divided into five groups including a control group, a sham group, and three treatment groups. For ischemic stroke induction, the middle cerebral artery was occluded for 60 min followed by 24 hours of reperfusion. Alpha-pinene was injected intraperitoneally at the beginning of reperfusion. The neurologic outcome, infarct volume 2, 3, 5-Triphenyl tetrazolium chloride, and histological studies were done 24 hours after the end of artery occlusion. Results: The results showed that the application of alpha-pinene (50 and 100 mg/kg) led to a significant decrease in the infarct size as well as an improvement in neurobehavioral function. Moreover, alpha-pinene reduced the number of damaged neurons in the ischemic area. Conclusion: The findings of the current study indicated that olive oil effectively reduced ischemia, promoted reperfusion, and improved neurological outcomes. Olive oil is a potent neuroprotective factor that may prevent neurodegeneration of transient focal ischemia at the beginning of reperfusion at ischemic areas.s
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