Article: Lycium barbarum extracts protect the brain from blood-brain barrier disruption and cerebral edema in experimental stroke
| Title | Lycium barbarum extracts protect the brain from blood-brain barrier disruption and cerebral edema in experimental stroke |
|---|---|
| Authors | Yang, D1 Li, SY1 Yeung, CM1 Chang, RCC1 So, KF1 Wong, D1 Lo, ACY1 |
| Issue Date | 2012 |
| Publisher | Public Library of Science. The Journal's web site is located at http://www.plosone.org/home.action |
| Citation | PLoS One, 2012, v. 7 n. 3, article no. e33596 [How to Cite?] DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0033596 |
| Abstract | BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Ischemic stroke is a destructive cerebrovascular disease and a leading cause of death. Yet, no ideal neuroprotective agents are available, leaving prevention an attractive alternative. The extracts from the fruits of Lycium barbarum (LBP), a Chinese anti-aging medicine and food supplement, showed neuroprotective function in the retina when given prophylactically. We aim to evaluate the protective effects of LBP pre-treatment in an experimental stroke model. METHODS: C57BL/6N male mice were first fed with either vehicle (PBS) or LBP (1 or 10 mg/kg) daily for 7 days. Mice were then subjected to 2-hour transient middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) by the intraluminal method followed by 22-hour reperfusion upon filament removal. Mice were evaluated for neurological deficits just before sacrifice. Brains were harvested for infarct size estimation, water content measurement, immunohistochemical analysis, and Western blot experiments. Evans blue (EB) extravasation was determined to assess blood-brain barrier (BBB) disruption after MCAO. RESULTS: LBP pre-treatment significantly improved neurological deficits as well as decreased infarct size, hemispheric swelling, and water content. Fewer apoptotic cells were identified in LBP-treated brains by TUNEL assay. Reduced EB extravasation, fewer IgG-leaky vessels, and up-regulation of occludin expression were also observed in LBP-treated brains. Moreover, immunoreactivity for aquaporin-4 and glial fibrillary acidic protein were significantly decreased in LBP-treated brains. CONCLUSIONS: Seven-day oral LBP pre-treatment effectively improved neurological deficits, decreased infarct size and cerebral edema as well as protected the brain from BBB disruption, aquaporin-4 up-regulation, and glial activation. The present study suggests that LBP may be used as a prophylactic neuroprotectant in patients at high risk for ischemic stroke. |
| ISSN | 1932-6203 2011 Impact Factor: 4.092 2011 SCImago Journal Rankings: 0.519 |
| DOI | http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0033596 |
| PubMed Central ID | PMC3306421 |
| References | References in Scopus |
| dc.contributor.author | Yang, D | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| dc.contributor.author | Li, SY | ||||||
| dc.contributor.author | Yeung, CM | ||||||
| dc.contributor.author | Chang, RCC | ||||||
| dc.contributor.author | So, KF | ||||||
| dc.contributor.author | Wong, D | ||||||
| dc.contributor.author | Lo, ACY | ||||||
| dc.date.accessioned | 2012-08-16T05:47:38Z | ||||||
| dc.date.available | 2012-08-16T05:47:38Z | ||||||
| dc.date.issued | 2012 | ||||||
| dc.description.abstract | BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Ischemic stroke is a destructive cerebrovascular disease and a leading cause of death. Yet, no ideal neuroprotective agents are available, leaving prevention an attractive alternative. The extracts from the fruits of Lycium barbarum (LBP), a Chinese anti-aging medicine and food supplement, showed neuroprotective function in the retina when given prophylactically. We aim to evaluate the protective effects of LBP pre-treatment in an experimental stroke model. METHODS: C57BL/6N male mice were first fed with either vehicle (PBS) or LBP (1 or 10 mg/kg) daily for 7 days. Mice were then subjected to 2-hour transient middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) by the intraluminal method followed by 22-hour reperfusion upon filament removal. Mice were evaluated for neurological deficits just before sacrifice. Brains were harvested for infarct size estimation, water content measurement, immunohistochemical analysis, and Western blot experiments. Evans blue (EB) extravasation was determined to assess blood-brain barrier (BBB) disruption after MCAO. RESULTS: LBP pre-treatment significantly improved neurological deficits as well as decreased infarct size, hemispheric swelling, and water content. Fewer apoptotic cells were identified in LBP-treated brains by TUNEL assay. Reduced EB extravasation, fewer IgG-leaky vessels, and up-regulation of occludin expression were also observed in LBP-treated brains. Moreover, immunoreactivity for aquaporin-4 and glial fibrillary acidic protein were significantly decreased in LBP-treated brains. CONCLUSIONS: Seven-day oral LBP pre-treatment effectively improved neurological deficits, decreased infarct size and cerebral edema as well as protected the brain from BBB disruption, aquaporin-4 up-regulation, and glial activation. The present study suggests that LBP may be used as a prophylactic neuroprotectant in patients at high risk for ischemic stroke. | ||||||
| dc.description.nature | published_or_final_version | ||||||
| dc.identifier.citation | PLoS One, 2012, v. 7 n. 3, article no. e33596 [How to Cite?] DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0033596 | ||||||
| dc.identifier.doi | http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0033596 | ||||||
| dc.identifier.hkuros | 205719 | ||||||
| dc.identifier.hkuros | 199715 | ||||||
| dc.identifier.isi | WOS:000303309100065
Funding Information: This study was supported by the University Development Fund from The University of Hong Kong to the Eye Institute and by the Azalea (1972) Endowment Fund to RCC and KFS. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript. | ||||||
| dc.identifier.issn | 1932-6203 2011 Impact Factor: 4.092 2011 SCImago Journal Rankings: 0.519 | ||||||
| dc.identifier.issue | 3, article no. e33596 | ||||||
| dc.identifier.pmcid | PMC3306421 | ||||||
| dc.identifier.pmid | 22438957 | ||||||
| dc.identifier.scopus | eid_2-s2.0-84863346634 | ||||||
| dc.identifier.uri | http://hdl.handle.net/10722/159275 | ||||||
| dc.identifier.volume | 7 | ||||||
| dc.language | eng | ||||||
| dc.publisher | Public Library of Science. The Journal's web site is located at http://www.plosone.org/home.action | ||||||
| dc.publisher.place | United States | ||||||
| dc.relation.ispartof | PLoS One | ||||||
| dc.relation.references | References in Scopus | ||||||
| dc.rights | Creative Commons: Attribution 3.0 Hong Kong License | ||||||
| dc.subject.mesh | Blood-Brain Barrier - drug effects | ||||||
| dc.subject.mesh | Brain Edema - etiology - pathology - physiopathology - prevention and control | ||||||
| dc.subject.mesh | Drugs, Chinese Herbal - pharmacology | ||||||
| dc.subject.mesh | Neuroprotective Agents - pharmacology | ||||||
| dc.subject.mesh | Stroke - complications - drug therapy - pathology - physiopathology | ||||||
| dc.title | Lycium barbarum extracts protect the brain from blood-brain barrier disruption and cerebral edema in experimental stroke | ||||||
| dc.type | Article |
Author Affiliations
- The University of Hong Kong Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine