Withania coagulans Protects Striatum from Oxidative Damages Induced by Global Brain Ischemia in Rat

[Background]Withania coagulans is a traditional plant that possesses diverse pharmacological characteristics including anti-hyperglycemic, anti-hyperlipidemic, antitumor, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant effects.[Objectives]This study evaluated the effect of preischemic administration of Withania coagulans extract (WCE) on antioxidant status and histopathological alteration of the striatum region in rat model of brain global ischemia reperfusion (I/R).[Methods]48 male Wistar rats were divided into four groups (n = 12): Control, Sham operated (Sham), I/R, and WCE + I/R. The animals received WCE or distilled water by oral gavage for 30 days before I/R except the control group. I/R was induced by two common carotid obstructions for 30 minutes. Three days following I/R, the animals were sacrificed, the brain was removed, and striatum was dissected out. Antioxidant statuses such as superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), catalase (CAT) activities, and malondialdehyde (MDA) level were measured and histological alteration was investigated in corpus striatum by Nissl and TUNEL staining.[Results]The results showed that the CAT, SOD, and GPx activities decreased and MDA level increased in I/R group compare to the control group. Preischemic administration of WCE significantly decreased MDA level and increased antioxidant statuses in the striatum region compared to I/R group (P < 0.001). Histopathological analysis revealed that pretreatment with WCE markedly decreased necrotic and apoptotic neurons (P < 0.001) in striatum and reduced white matter injury induced by I/R.[Conclusions]We concluded that WCE by its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects could modify ischemia reperfusion damage in rat striatum.