Oxidative Stress in The Hippocampus During Experimental Seizures Can Be Ameliorated With The Antioxidant Ascorbic Acid

Abstract

Ascorbic acid has many nonenzymatic actions and is a powerful water-soluble antioxidant. It protects low density lipoproteins from oxidation and reduces harmful oxidants in the central nervous system. Pilocarpine-induced seizures have been suggested to be mediated by increases in oxidative stress. Current studies have suggested that antioxidant compounds may afford some level of neuroprotection against the neurotoxicity of seizures. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the neuroprotective effects of ascorbic acid (AA) in rats, against the observed oxidative stress during seizures induced by pilocarpine. Wistar rats were treated with 0.9% saline (i.p., control group), ascorbic acid (500 mg/kg, i.p., AA group), pilocarpine (400 mg/kg, i.p., pilocarpine group), and the association of ascorbic acid (500 mg/kg, i.p.) plus pilocarpine (400 mg/kg, i.p.), 30 min before of administration of ascorbic acid (AA plus pilocarpine group). After the treatments all groups were observed for 6 h. The enzyme activities as well as the lipid peroxidation and nitrite concentrations were measured using spectrophotometric methods and the results compared to values obtained from saline and pilocarpine-treated animals. Protective effects of ascorbic acid were also evaluated on the same parameters. In pilocarpine group there was a significant increase in lipid peroxidation and nitrite level. However, no alteration was observed in superoxide dismutase and catalase activities. Antioxidant treatment significantly reduced the lipid peroxidation level and nitrite content as well as increased the superoxide dismutase and catalase activities in hippocampus of adult rats after seizures induced by pilocarpine. Our findings strongly support the hypothesis that oxidative stress in hippocampus occurs during seizures induced by pilocarpine, proving that brain damage induced by the oxidative process plays a crucial role in seizures pathogenic consequences, and also imply that a strong protective effect could be achieved using ascorbic acid.

Ascorbic Acid Reduces the Adverse Effects of Delayed Administration of Tissue Plasminogen Activator in a Rat Stroke Model

“…In the second experiment, 20 rats were randomly divided into four equal groups as noted above, and these animals were used for the evaluation of BBB permeability and levels of MMP-9. The dose of r-tPA and AA was selected based on the other investigations [14,18] and our preliminary results. The drugs were applied at 5 hr after the stroke onset.…”

“…It has been shown that antioxidant treatment with AA significantly reduces lipid peroxidation and increases superoxide dismutase and catalase activities after seizures induced by pilocarpine [14]. Moreover, AA is an essential antioxidant for scavenging free radicals in the brain and may protect endothelial function against the exacerbated ischaemic oxidative injury in diabetes [15].…”

Dietary Derived Antioxidants: Implications on Health

“…Besides its implication in many biological processes, vitamin C is a powerful reducing agent, participating in several antioxidant mechanisms (Santos et al, 2009) by directly scavenging radicals, mediating electron transfer to ascorbate-dependent peroxidases or regenerating membrane bound vitamin E that has been oxidized, e.g. by lipid peroxyl radicals (LOO • ), and thus indirectly limiting lipid peroxidation in cell membranes.…”

“…Several beneficial functions have been attributed to vitamin C, e.g. as regulative factors that may influence gene expression, apoptosis and other cellular functions, and playing a role as a cofactor for several enzymatic steps in the synthesis of monoamines, amino acids, peptide hormones, and carnitine (Santos et al, 2009). …”

Molecular Docking Study of Neuroprotectiveplant-Derived Biomolecules in Parkinson’s Disease

“…These biomolecules are having an antioxidant profile which would be a strong basis for showing neuroprotection within the brain [9]. These biomolecules are natural compounds which are found in many fruits and vegetables and having much stronger antioxidative and neuroprotective activities [10]. The neuroprotective properties of Naringenin Inhibited LPS induced NOS and COX2 expression and suppressed the production of NO in microglial cells.…”