The protective role of oxymatrine on neuronal cell apoptosis in the hemorrhagic rat brain.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Oxymatrine is extracted from the traditional Chinese herb Sophora flavescens Ait, possesses anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidative and anti-apoptotic properties, and has been used for the treatment of chronic viral hepatitis and many other diseases.

AIMS OF THE STUDY: This study aimed to investigate the effects of oxymatrine on inflammatory response mediated by Toll-like receptor4 (TLR4) and nuclear factor kappa-B (NF-κB), oxidative injury induced by 12/15 lipoxygenase (12/15-LOX), phosphorylated p38 mitogen activated protein kinase (phosphor-p38 MAPK) and cytosolic phospholipase A2 (cPLA2), and neuronal cell apoptosis in rat brain with intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH).

MATERIALS AND METHODS: Wistar rats were treated intraperitoneally with 60 or 120mg/kg of oxymatrine daily for 5 days following ICH. The rats were sacrificed at hour 2, 6, 12, 24, 48, 72, and 120 after ICH. The gene expressions of TLR-4 and NF-κB, the levels of TNF-alpha, interleukin-1beta, interleukin-6, 12/15-LOX, phospho-p38 MAPK and cPLA2, and the number of apoptotic neuronal cells in rat brain were determined.

RESULTS: Oxymatrine at 120mg/kg significantly suppressed gene expressions of TLR-4 and NF-κB, decreased levels of TNF-alpha, interleukin-1beta and interleukin-6, inhibited synthesis of 12/15-LOX, phospho-p38 MAPK and cPLA2 protein, and mitigated apoptotic neuronal changes following ICH in rat.

CONCLUSION: Oxymatrine at 120mg/kg following ICH inhibits inflammatory responses, oxidative injury, and neuronal cell apoptosis in rats.