Salvia miltiorrhiza extract protects white matter and the hippocampus from damage induced by chronic cerebral hypoperfusion in rats

Abstract

BackgroundSalvia miltiorrhiza (SM), an herbal plant, is traditionally used in the treatment of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases in Asian countries. SM has multiple biological effects including anti-inflammatory activity. The present study is aimed at investigating the effects of SM extract in rats with chronic cerebral hypoperfusion.MethodsChronic cerebral hypoperfusion was induced in male Wistar rats by permanent bilateral common carotid artery occlusion (BCCAo). The rats were divided into 3 groups: sham-control, BCCAo treated with vehicle, and BCCAo treated with SM extract. Vehicle or SM extract (200 mg/kg) were administered daily by oral gavage beginning on day 21 after BCCAo and continuing to day 42. Immunohistochemical analyses were used to measure Iba-1-positive microglia and myelin basic protein (MBP) in white matter and hippocampal tissue. In addition, the expression levels of proinflammatory cytokines, including TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6, and the toll-like receptor (TLR) pathway in the hippocampus, were analyzed by western blot.ResultsAdministration of SM extract attenuated the activation of microglial cells in the white matter and hippocampus after BCCAo. SM extract also prevented neuroinflammation after BCCAo by reducing hippocampal levels of TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6, and increasing the reduced levels of MBP in the white matter and hippocampus. Further, the administration of SM extract alleviated the up-regulation of hippocampal TLR4 and myeloid differentiation primary response gene 88 (MyD88) in rats with chronic BCCAo.ConclusionsOur findings suggest that SM may be a promising therapeutic candidate in vascular dementia because of its protective effects against damage to the white matter and hippocampus after BCCAo.

Mumefural Ameliorates Cognitive Impairment in Chronic Cerebral Hypoperfusion via Regulating the Septohippocampal Cholinergic System and Neuroinflammation

“…The bilateral common carotid artery occlusion (BCCAo) model, which is the most widely used VaD model, induces CCH by permanently ligating both common carotid arteries and shows pathological physiology similar to that in VaD patients [10,11,12,13]. We have investigated the therapeutic candidates, such as Fructus mume ( F. mume ), Ginkgo biloba L., Salvia miltiorrhiza , and cardiotonic pill, for CCH in the BCCAo model [14,15,16,17,18]. Notably, F. mume , a processed fruit of Prunus mume , improves BCCAo-induced cognitive impairment via the attenuation of the cholinergic system dysfunction and the inhibition of inflammation-related factors, such as gliosis, toll-like receptor-4 (TLR4), P38 mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPK), and nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) [15,18,19].…”

AKT/mTOR signaling pathway is involved in salvianolic acid B-induced autophagy and apoptosis in hepatocellular carcinoma cells

“…In recent years, Chinese medicine is emerging as an attractive new generation of anticancer drugs due to their ability to effectively eliminate cancer cells with low toxicity (8)(9)(10). Salvia miltiorrhiza (Danshen), a popular Chinese herb, has been widely used for treating angina pectoris, myocardial infarction (MI) and stroke (11,12). Salvianolic acid B (Sal B) is one of the major water-soluble compounds and active ingredients of Danshen (13,14).…”

Overview of Salvia miltiorrhiza as a Potential Therapeutic Agent for Various Diseases: An Update on Efficacy and Mechanisms of Action

“…Cai et al showed that an intraperitoneal injection of S. miltiorrhiza extract at a dose of 5 mL/kg/day for 4 weeks could ameliorate the learning and memory decline of diabetic rats, as shown by the improved escape latency and platform-finding frequency in the Morris water maze test and the increased mitogen-activated protein kinase-1 (MKP-1) protein expression under the hyperglycemic condition [ 101 ]. According to Kim et al, the oral administration of S. miltiorrhiza extract could protect against the damage to the white matter and hippocampus in bilateral common carotid artery occlusion (BCCAo) rat model possibly via myeloid differentiation primary response 88 (MyD88)-dependent toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) pathway [ 102 ]. S. miltiorrhiza extract administration at a dose of 200 mg/kg/day for 22 days attenuated the BCCAo-induced increase in TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6, TLR4, and MyD88 and the decrease in myelin basic protein (MBP).…”