Tropical Journal of Pharmaceutical Research

Original Research Article | OPEN ACCESS

Abietic acid ameliorates neuroinflammation and blood-brain barrier disruption in traumatic brain injury by inhibiting MAPK pathway

Kongxue Xing¹, Wenrong Jiang²

¹Trauma Center, The Second People's Hospital of Ledong County, Ledong Li Autonomous County, Hainan Province 572536, China; ²Department of Neurosurgery, Haikou People's Hospital, Haikou, Hainan Province 570208, China.

For correspondence:- Wenrong Jiang Email: jwenrong0419@163.com Tel:+8618189850718

Accepted: 27 August 2022 Published: 30 September 2022

Citation: Xing K, Jiang W. Abietic acid ameliorates neuroinflammation and blood-brain barrier disruption in traumatic brain injury by inhibiting MAPK pathway. Trop J Pharm Res 2022; 21(9):1893-1897 doi: 10.4314/tjpr.v21i9.12

© 2022 The authors.
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Abstract

Purpose: To investigate the effects of abietic acid (AA) on traumatic brain injury (TBI) in a rat model, and the underlying mechanisms of action.

Methods: Twenty male Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were randomly divided into four groups of 5 animals each: Sham, TBI, TBI + AA (14 mg/kg), and TBI + AA (28 mg/kg). Controlled cortical impact (CCI) model was used to induce TBI in rats. Western blot was used to determine the protein levels of Claudin 3, Occludin, ZO-1, Bax, Bcl-2, cleaved-caspase3, p65 NF-κB, p-p65 NF-κB, ERK, p-ERK, JNK, p-JNK, p38 and p-p38, while the expressions of TNF-α, IL-6 and IL-1β were determined using the applicable assay kits. Neurological deficit was assessed based on mNSS and brain water content.

Results: Treatment with AA significantly reduced TBI-induced blood-brain barrier (BBB) damage, as well as apoptosis and neuroinflammation in a concentration-dependent manner (p < 0.001). The neuroprotective effect of AA was associated with the inhibition of the MAPK signaling pathways and subsequent suppression of NF-κB (p < 0.001).

Conclusion: Abietic acid serves as a potential novel candidate for the treatment of TBI, and its anti-inflammatory and anti-apoptotic effects are related to the suppression of MAPK signaling pathways. Therefore, abietic acid may serve as a novel candidate for the treatment of TBI in humans.

Keywords: Abietic acid, MAPK pathway, Traumatic brain injury, Blood brain barrier, Neuroinflammation, Neurological deficit