Neuroprotective Effects of Vaccinium myrtillus on Damage-Related Brain Injury

J Chem Neuroanat. 2022 Nov 19:102193. doi: 10.1016/j.jchemneu.2022.102193. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Traumatic brain injury may trigger the secondary brain injury, whichhas the potential to be reversible and thus preventable. Anthocyanins are phylotherapeutic plants, which are reported to exhibit anti-inflammatory properties. This study aimedto evaluate the therapeutic efficiency of an anthocyanin, namely Vaccinium myrtillus, to alleviate secondary brain injury and identify possible mechanism of actions. It is hypothesized that lipid peroxidation and Na+-K+-ATPase activity may be involved in neuronal ischemia. Thus, brain tissue Malondialdehyde content, Na+-K+-ATPase content, and cleaved caspase-3 content was investigated following moderate head trauma in a rat model. Twenty-four Sprague-Dawley male rats were allocated into four groups: Control, Trauma, Solvent-Control, and Treatment. Trauma and Solvent-Control groups showed more prominent brain edema, neuronal ischemia, vascular congestion, increase in brain tissue Malondialdehyde and cleaved caspase-3 levels, and decreased Na+-K+-ATPase activity compared to the Control group. Although the Treatment group had comparable histological signs to the Trauma and Solvent-Control groups, Malondialdehyde level and Na+-K+-ATPase activity was similar to Control group, and cleaved caspase-3 levels were lower compared to Trauma and Solvent-Control groups. We conclude that anthocyanin extracts may alleviate secondary brain injury via anti-oxidative and anti-apoptotic mechanisms.

PMID:36414183 | DOI:10.1016/j.jchemneu.2022.102193