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Abstract: Ethnopharmacological relevance: Oxymatrine is extracted from the traditional Chinese herb Sophora flavescens Ait, possesses anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidative and anti-apoptotic properties, and has been used for the treatment of chronic viral hepatitis and many other diseases. Aims of the study: This study aimed to investigate the effects of oxymatrine on inflammatory response mediated by Toll-like receptor4 (TLR4) and nuclear factor kappa-B (NF-κB), oxidative injury induced by 12/15 lipoxygenase (12/15-LOX), phosphorylated p38 mitogen activated protein kinase (phosphor-p38 MAPK) and cytosolic phospholipase A2 (cPLA2), and neuronal cell apoptosis in rat brain with intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH). Materials and methods: Wistar rats were treated intraperitoneally with 60 or 120mg/kg of oxymatrine daily for 5 days following ICH. The rats were sacrificed at hour 2, 6, 12, 24, 48, 72, and 120 after ICH. The gene expressions of TLR-4 and NF-κB, the levels of TNF-alpha, interleukin-1beta, interleukin-6, 12/15-LOX, phospho-p38 MAPK and cPLA2, and the number of apoptotic neuronal cells in rat brain were determined. Results: Oxymatrine at 120mg/kg significantly suppressed gene expressions of TLR-4 and NF-κB, decreased levels of TNF-alpha, interleukin-1beta and interleukin-6, inhibited synthesis of 12/15-LOX, phospho-p38 MAPK and cPLA2 protein, and mitigated apoptotic neuronal changes following ICH in rat. Conclusion: Oxymatrine at 120mg/kg following ICH inhibits inflammatory responses, oxidative injury, and neuronal cell apoptosis in rats. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Ethnopharmacological relevance: Ginkgolide B (GB) is one of the ginkgolides that have been isolated from leaves and root bark of the Chinese tree Ginkgo biloba L. (Ginkgoaceae), and is a specific and potent antagonist of platelet activating factor. There is a large body of data showing that GB possesses a markedly neuroprotective property against ischemia-induced impairment in vivo and in vitro. Recently it has been found that GB can inhibit the inflammation in the rat brain tissues with ischemia/reperfusion injury and in the astrocytes treated with lipopolysaccharide, as well as protect neurons against beta-amyloid 25–35 and ischemia-induced apoptosis. However, there have been few reports on the influence of GB on intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH). This study was to investigate the effects of intraperitoneal GB on neuronal cell apoptosis, inflammatory cytokines and Toll-like receptor4 (TLR4)/nuclear factor kappa-B (NF-κB) pathway after ICH. Materials and methods: Wistar rats obtained an intraperitoneal injection of 5, 10 and 20mg/kg GB after ICH once a day till day 5. Rats were sacrificed by decapitation at hour 2, 6 and 12, as well as day 1, 2, 3 and 5 after ICH. Gene expressions of TLR-4 and NF-κB, concentrations of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), interleukin-1beta (IL-1β) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) as well as number of apoptotic neuronal cells in hemorrhagic rat brain tissues were determined. Results: The administration of 10 and 20mg/kg GB could significantly suppress gene expressions of TLR-4 and NF-κB, lessen concentrations of TNF-α, IL-1β and IL-6 as well as reduce number of apoptotic neuronal cells in hemorrhagic rat brain tissues by Least-significant Difference test (P <0.05), but the administration of 5mg/kg GB not (P >0.05). However, a clear concentration-response relationship was not found. Conclusions: GB may inhibit TLR4/NF-κB-dependent inflammatory responses, and furthermore lessen neuronal cell apoptosis after ICH, which may support the use of G. biloba extracts for the treatment of ICH. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]