Carthamus tinctorius L. ameliorates brain injury followed by cerebral ischemia-reperfusion in rats by antioxidative and anti-inflammatory mechanisms

Objective(s): Carthamus tinctorius L. (CT) or saffloweris widely used in traditional Chinese medicine. This study investigated the effects of CT extract (CTE) on ischemia–reperfusion (I/R) brain injury and elucidated the underlying mechanism. Materials and Methods: The I/R model was conducted by occlusion of both common carotid arteries and right middle cerebral artery for ۹۰ min followed by ۲۴ hr reperfusion in Sprague-Dawley rats. CTE (۰.۲-۰.۶ g/kg) was administered intraperitoneally before and during ischemia, and during reperfusion period. The cerebral infarction area, neurological deficit scores, free radicals (lucigenin chemiluminescence counts) and pro-inflammatory cytokines expression were measured. Results: Pretreatment and treatment with CTE significantly reduced the cerebral infarction area and neurological deficits. CTE (۰.۴ g/kg) also reduced blood levels of free radicals and expression of tumor necrosis factor-α and interleukin-۱β in the cerebral infarction area. Conclusion: The reduction in I/R cerebral infarction caused by CTE is possibly associated with its antioxidation and anti-inflammatory properties.

Keywords:

Carthamus tinctorius extract , Free radicals , Ischemia-reperfusion injury