Tropical Journal of Pharmaceutical Research

Original Research Article | OPEN ACCESS

Neuroprotective effects of crude extract of Crataegus songarica on a rat model of traumatic brain injury

Xueliang Gao, Zhao Wang, Peilei Jia, Yapeng Zhao, Kai Wang, Puyang Li, Jianye Cheng, Lipeng Qin, Zengbin Fu

Department of Neurosurgery, Hebei Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shijiazhuang, Hebei 050011, China;

For correspondence:- Zengbin Fu Email: fuzb123@163.com Tel:+8631169095611

Accepted: 24 January 2021 Published: 28 February 2021

Citation: Gao X, Wang Z, Jia P, Zhao Y, Wang K, Li P, et al. Neuroprotective effects of crude extract of Crataegus songarica on a rat model of traumatic brain injury. Trop J Pharm Res 2021; 20(2):293-299 doi: 10.4314/tjpr.v20i2.11

© 2021 The authors.
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Abstract

Purpose: To investigate the protective effect of Crataegus songarica extract (CSCE) against traumatic brain injury (TBI) in rats, and the underlying mechanism of action.

Methods: A rat model of TBI was established via tracheal intubation procedure, and the rats were treated with graded doses of CSCE. Neuronal survival was determined by Nissl staining, while neuronal apoptosis was measured using TUNEL-staining. Neurological impairments were determined based on neurological severity score (NSS).

Results: Treatment of TBI rats with CSCE enhanced neuronal survival and decreased TUNEL-positive cell fraction in the brain cortex. The treatment prevented elevation of NSS and suppressed mRNA and protein expression levels of IL-6 and TNF-α in brain cortex. Moreover, CSCE treatment prevented TBI-mediated suppression of activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx), and attenuated hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) levels in TBI rat brain cortex. Treatment of TBI rats with CSCE down-regulated NF-κB expression, increased Nrf2 expression and up-regulated mRNA expressions of heme oxygenase 1 (HO- 1) and quinine oxidoreductase 1 (NQO- 1).

Conclusion: These results suggest that CSCE prevents TBI-mediated reduction in neuronal survival and inhibits brain cortical neuronal death in rats. It improves NSS and inhibits inflammatory response via activation of Nrf2 pathway and targeting of NF- κB expression. Therefore, CSCE is a potential therapeutic agent for TBI.

Keywords: Crataegus songarica, Traumatic brain injury, Neurological severity score, Interleukins