The Anti-cerebral Ischemia Effects Of Saponins Of Panax Notoginseng And Its Mechanisms

Stroke remains a major source of mortality and disability in society. The anti-cerebral ischemic effect of saponins of Panax notoginseng(PNS) and its mechanisms were examined in the present study. The main results were as follows:1. The effects of PNS in complete brain ischemia and in rat middle cerebral artery occlussion (MCAO) model PNS (50, 100 mg.kg^-1× 3d,ip) significantly prolonged the duration of gasping of mice subjected to complete brain ischemia induced by decapitation or intravenous injection of MgCl₂. Treatment with PNS 200 mg.kg^-1 ip was performed 30 min before or 15 min after MCAO. The infarcted area and the neurological deficit 24 h following MCAO were reduced by PNS as compared with the saline treated group. The neuronal injury determined by histopathological examination was also attenuated.2. The neuroprotective effects of PNS PNS(25,50 mg.L^-1)attenuated neuronal damage during hypoxia 5 h /reoxygenation(0,3,24 h) which was reflected by the decrease of enzyme release from cells into culture medium and reduction of changes in cell morphology. PNS, furthermore,prevented neurons from the excitotoxic effect of glutamate 500 umol.L^-1 after 8 min exposure.3. The influence of PNS on blood supply in brain tissuse Using Laser...