Medicinal plants in traumatic brain injury: Neuroprotective mechanisms revisited

Abstract

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is the most prevalent health problem affecting all age groups, and leads to many secondary problems in other organs especially kidneys, gastrointestinal tract, and heart function. In this review, the search terms were TBI, fluid percussion injury, cold injury, weight drop impact acceleration injury, lateral fluid percussion, cortical impact injury, and blast injury. Studies with Actaea racemosa, Artemisia annua, Aframomum melegueta, Carthamus tinctorius, Cinnamomum zeylanicum, Crocus sativus, Cnidium monnieri, Curcuma longa, Gastrodia elata, Malva sylvestris, Da Chuanxiong Formula, Erigeron breviscapus, Panax ginseng, Salvia tomentosa, Satureja khuzistanica, Nigella sativa, Drynaria fortune, Dracaena cochinchinensis, Polygonum cuspidatum, Rosmarinus officinalis, Rheum tanguticum, Centella asiatica, and Curcuma zedoaria show a significant decrease in neuronal injury by different mechanisms such as increasing superoxide dismutase and catalase activities, suppressing nuclear factor kappa B (NF‐κB), interleukin 1 (IL‐1), glial fibrillary acidic protein, and IL‐6 expression. The aim of this study was to evaluate the neuroprotective effects of medicinal plants in central nervous system pathologies by reviewing the available literature.

Malva species: Insights on its chemical composition towards pharmacological applications

“…sylvestris may reduce xerostomia through increasing the salivary secretion or maintaining the mucosal water content in oral cavity. The reduction of cisplatin-induced renal and hepatic side effects has also been demonstrated in rats (n = 56; male rats of 9-to 11-weeks old) Indeed, M. sylvestris significantly reduced neuronal injury by mechanisms involving raise in superoxide dismutase and CAT activities, suppression of nuclear factor kappa B, IL-1 and IL-6, and glial fibrillary acidic protein expression confirming its neuroprotective effects on central nervous system (Keshavarzi et al, 2019). The role of the aqueous extract from M. sylvestris aerial parts was assessed in rat models with induced inflammation (Sleiman & Daher, 2009).…”

“…This suggests that M. parviflora can be effectively used to prevent or delay Alzheimer's disease progression (Medrano‐Jimenez et al, ). Indeed, M. sylvestris significantly reduced neuronal injury by mechanisms involving raise in superoxide dismutase and CAT activities, suppression of nuclear factor kappa B, IL‐1 and IL‐6, and glial fibrillary acidic protein expression confirming its neuroprotective effects on central nervous system (Keshavarzi et al, ). The role of the aqueous extract from M. sylvestris aerial parts was assessed in rat models with induced inflammation (Sleiman & Daher, ).…”

Biochemistry, Safety, Pharmacological Activities, and Clinical Applications of Turmeric: A Mechanistic Review

“…Results showed this effect by decreased oxidative stress and cerebral edema, rise in BDNF level, protection of synaptic proteins and mitochondria, and microglial activation. Also, it has been shown that it can decrease in IL-6, TNF-α, IL-1β, and MCP-1 and improve toll-like receptor 4 and aquaporin-4 expression [114]. Additionally, the activation of the Nrf2 pathway is one of the most important mechanisms regarding this action [115].…”

Herbal Medicine for Traumatic Brain Injury: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials and Limitations

“…Many studies have tried to explain the mechanism through which HM functions in TBI, showing that HM decreases neuronal injury by increasing superoxide dismutase and catalase activities, as well as by suppressing the expression of interleukin (IL)-1, IL-6, nuclear factor kappa B, and glial fibrillary acidic protein ( 88 ). Another study showed that HM protected a rat model of TBI, possibly via immune-promoting, anti-inflammatory, and neuroprotective effects ( 89 ).…”