羟基红花黄色素A对实验性脑缺血的保护作用

红花为菊科植物红花(Carthamus tinctoriusL.)的干燥花,是传统的活血化瘀类代表药物[1]。红花的化学成分比较复杂,研究表明,红花的花中含有黄酮类、脂肪酸、色素、挥发油以及多炔等化合物[2]。目前认为,红花活血化瘀的主要成分集中在水溶性的黄色素部分;红花黄色素主要成分有羟基红花黄色素A(hydroxysafflor yellow A,HSYA)、红花明苷A、红花明苷B及其他含量较低的成分。在红花黄色素中含量最高且具有活性的成分为羟基红花黄色素A[2]。作者采用经典的大鼠大脑中动脉阻塞性脑缺血模型,观察HSYA对局灶性脑缺血大鼠的行为评分、缺血区面…

Protective effect of hydroxysafflor yellow A on experimental cerebral ischemia in rats

AIM: To investigate the protective effect of hydroxysafflor yellow A (HSYA), a soluble element extracted from Carthamus tinctorius L., on focal cerebral ischemia in rats. METHODS: Focal cerebral ischemia in male Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) rats were induced by permanent middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO). Three doses of 1.5, 3.0 and 6.0 mg x kg(-1) of HSYA were administrated to three groups of rats, separately, via sublingular vein injection 30 min after the onset of ischemia. 24 h after ischemia in rats, neurological deficit scores were evaluated and the infarction area of brain was assessed by quantitative image analysis. The in vitro neuroprotective effect of HSYA was tested in cultured fetal cortical neurons exposed to glutamate and sodium cyanide (NaCN). RESULTS: HSYA at doses of 3.0 and 6.0 mg x kg(-1) exerted significant neuroprotective effects on rats with focal cerebral ischemic injury as expressed by neurological deficit scores and reduced the infarct area as compared with saline group, and the potency of HSYA at dose of 6.0 mg x kg(-1) was similar to that of 0.2 mg x kg(-1) of nimodipine. In vitro studies, HSYA significantly inhibited neurons damage induced by exposure to glutamate and NaCN in cultured fetal cortical cells. CONCLUSION: HSYA has potential neuroprotective action against focal cerebral ischemia in rats and cultured rat fetal cortical neurons as well.