Effect of Saponin on Cerebral Edema Rate in An Animal Model of Stroke

Abstract

Background and purpose: Oxidative stress and neuroinflammation are the main causes of cerebral ischemia. Saponin with steroid or triterpenoid compounds with a sugar part has strong antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of saponin on cerebral edema, Bax gene expression level, and ischemic neurological defects. Materials and methods: In this experimental study, 24 male Wistar rats were divided into three groups: sham, stroke, and stroke+saponin. Rats in the stroke+saponin group received intravenous injection of saponin (3mg/kg) 30 minutes before cerebral ischemia. Each group was divided into two subgroups: brain edema (n=5) and gene expression level investigation (n=3). Cerebral ischemia was induced by middle cerebral artery occlusion model. After 24 hrs, we investigated neurological deficits resulting from ischemia (Kruskal-Wallis test), the degree of brain edema, and Bax gene expression levels in the cortex, piriform cortex-amygdala, striatum, and hippocampus (one-way ANOVA). Results: Findings indicated a significant decrease in the score of neurological defects resulting from ischemia, the amount of cerebral edema, and the level of Bax gene expression in stroke+saponin group (P<0.05). Conclusion: This study showed that saponin pretreatment in rats with ischemia-reperfusion injury can be effective in reducing the damage caused by cerebral ischemia.

Keywords

• stroke
• cerebral edema
• saponin
• bax