The neuroprotective effects of the seeds of Cassia obtusifolia on transient cerebral global ischemia in mice

The aim of this study was to determine the mechanism underlying the neuroprotective effects of the ethanolic extract of the seeds of Cassia obtusifolia (COE) (10 or 50 mg/kg/day, p.o) on transient cerebral global ischemia induced by bilateral common carotid artery occlusion (2VO) in mice. Immunohistochemical and western blot studies showed that levels of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) in the hippocampal CA1 region at 1 day post-2VO were attenuated by COE (50 mg/kg/day, p.o), which was administered immediately after 2VO. Furthermore, OX-42 – and glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP)-positive cell numbers at 4 days post-2VO were markedly attenuated by COE (50 mg/kg/day, p.o) treatment for 4 days in CA1. Viable neurons detected by Nissl at 7 days post-2VO were increased by administering COE (50 mg/kg/day, p.o) for 7 days. In addition, COE increased the expressions of phosphorylated cAMP response element binding protein (CREB) and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in CA1 in naïve-control within 1 and 6 h, respectively, and these expressions were also profoundly increased in 2VO-treated mice by COE at immediately post-2VO. These results suggest that the neuroprotective effects of COE are due to its anti-inflammatory effects and to its upregulation of BDNF expression and CREB phosphorylation.