Xiao-Xu-Ming decoction extracts promotes mitochondrial biogenesis and improves neurobehavioral deficits in cerebral ischemia/reperfusion rats

Abstract

Introduction: Stroke is one of the leading causes of death and disability in the worldwide. Traditional Chinese medicine plays an important role in preventing and treatment of stroke. Xiao-Xu-Ming decoction (XXM) is an effective traditional Chinese prescription for the treatment of stroke and its sequelae. Previous studies have reported the extracts of XXM has a good therapeutic effect on experimental animal stroke. However, the mechanism is unclear. Our present study focused on metabolic remodeling in cerebral ischemia-reperfusion to investigate the mechanism of XXM on cerebral ischemia/reperfusion (I/R). Methods: The cerebral I/R rat model was established by 90 min middle cerebral artery occlusion following reperfusion. XXM at doses of 37.5, 75 and 150 mg/kg was administered for the continuous 7 day after cerebral I/R. Behavioral testing, cerebral infarction detected by TTC staining, Nissl staining, NeuN immunohistochemical staining, and MAP2 immunofluorescence staining were conducted to evaluate the effect of XXM treatment on cerebral I/R of rats. TUNEL staining was used to detect DNA damage. The expression of related proteins was detected by qPCR and western blotting. Results: 7 day XXM treatment improved neurological and behavioral deficits, regulated the biogenesis and dynamic process of mitochondria, promoted the recovery of mitochondrial function, and improved the energy metabolism disorder after cerebral I/R. Furthermore, XXM also had an improving effect on mitochondrial-dependent apoptosis after cerebral I/R. Conclusion: we found that XXM regulated metabolic remodeling in cerebral ischemia-reperfusion and improve neurological deficits.

Keywords

• Xiao-Xu-Ming decoction
• Cerebral Ischemia
• Metabolic remodeling
• Mitochondrial function
• Apoptosis