Neuroprotective effects of Apium graveolens against focal cerebral ischemia occur partly via antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti-apoptotic pathways

Background: Stroke is a neurological disease caused by a sudden disturbance of cerebral blood flow to the brain, leading to loss of brain function. Recently, accumulating lines of evidence have suggested that dietary enrichment with nutritional antioxidants could reduce brain damage and improve cognitive function. In this study, we investigated the possible protective effects of Apium graveolens, a medicinal plant with putative neuroprotective activity, against oxidative stress-related brain damage, and brain damage due to focal cerebral ischemia-induced inflammation.

Methods: Male adult Wistar rats were administered with an extract of Apium graveolens orally 14 days before permanent occlusion of their right middle cerebral artery (MCAO). The brain infarct volumes of rats in each group were determined by TTC staining, while the density of neurons in the cortex and hippocampus of rats was determined by cresyl violet staining. The levels of malondialdehyde (MDA), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) in the cerebral cortex and hippocampus of the rats were also quantified at the end of the study period.

Results: Our results show that Apium graveolens extract significantly decreased infarct volume and improved neuronal density in the cortex and hippocampus of rats receiving Apium graveolens extract compared to those rats receiving no treatment. This neuroprotective effect was found to occur partly due to antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti-apoptotic effects.

Conclusion: Our study demonstrates that Apium graveolens helps to reduce the severity of cognitive damage caused by focal cerebral ischemia. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

Keywords: Apium graveolens; anti-apoptosis; anti-inflammatory; antioxidant; focal ischemic stroke.