Abstract

Context: The hydroalcoholic extract of Dorema aucheri Bilhar (Umbelliferae) (DA) leaves, a medicinal plant, has powerful antioxidant properties. Objective: This study evaluates the neuroprotective effects of pre-treatment with DA leaves extract against cerebral ischaemia-induced brain injury through alteration of the antioxidant capacity. Materials and methods: The study was conducted in three groups of Wistar rats (N = 47) as follows; sham, control ischaemic and pre-treated ischaemic groups. Rats were administered a fresh hydroalcoholic extract of DA leaves at a dosage of 200 mg/kg/day for 14 days. Then, the middle cerebral artery (MCA) of the right hemisphere was occluded for 90 min to achieve cerebral ischaemia. After 24 h reperfusion, cerebral infarction and superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase activities, as well as malondialdehyde (MDA), glutathione, and NOx contents were determined in the right hemispheres. Results: Occlusion of the right MCA caused noticeable cerebral infarction (298 +/- 21 mm(3)) in control ischaemic group, but pre-treatment with DA extract considerably attenuated it (92 +/- 14 mm(3)) in the pre-treated ischaemic group. DA extract significantly decreased the levels of MDA by 28 and NOx by 11 in pre-treated ischaemic group compared to the control ischaemic group. DA extract also enhanced glutathione content by 7, SOD activity by 16 and catalase activity by 46 in pre-treated ischaemic rats compared to control ischaemic rats. Discussion and conclusions: DA is able to improve the antioxidant capacity and injuries of ischaemic brain. It is proposed as a neuroprotectant following cerebral ischaemia to decrease the injuries of ischaemic stroke.