Neuroprotective Effects and Hepatorenal Toxicity of Angong Niuhuang Wan Against Ischemia–Reperfusion Brain Injury in Rats
Angong Niuhuang Wan (AGNHW) is a classic prescription in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) used for stroke treatment, but its efficacies remain to be confirmed. With its arsenic- and mercury-containing materials, the application of AGNHW raises great safety concerns. Herein, we aim to explore the n...
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2019-05-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Pharmacology |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fphar.2019.00593/full |
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| author | Bun Tsoi Xingmiao Chen Chong Gao Songlin Wang Sau Chu Yuen Depo Yang Jiangang Shen |
| author_facet | Bun Tsoi Xingmiao Chen Chong Gao Songlin Wang Sau Chu Yuen Depo Yang Jiangang Shen |
| author_sort | Bun Tsoi |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Angong Niuhuang Wan (AGNHW) is a classic prescription in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) used for stroke treatment, but its efficacies remain to be confirmed. With its arsenic- and mercury-containing materials, the application of AGNHW raises great safety concerns. Herein, we aim to explore the neuropharmacological effects against cerebral ischemia–reperfusion injury and evaluate the toxicological effects of AGNHW for better use. Male SD rats were subjected to 2 h of middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) and following 22 h of reperfusion. AGNHW (257 mg/kg, 1× AGNHW) were orally administered for pharmacological effects and 257, 514, and 1,028 mg/kg (equivalent to 1×, 2×, 4× AGNHW) were used for the toxicological study. The results revealed that AGNHW treatment reduced the infarct size and protected the blood–brain barrier (BBB) integrity in the MCAO rat ischemic stroke model. AGNHW treatment up-regulated bcl-2 expression and down-regulated the expressions of Bax, p47phox, inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), and 3-nitrotyrosine (3-NT), and inhibited the expressions and activities of matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2), MMP-9, and reserved tight junction protein zonula occludens-1 (ZO-1) and claudin-5 in the ischemic brains. These results indicated that the neuroprotective mechanisms of AGNHW could be associated with its antioxidant properties by inhibiting oxidative/nitrative stress-mediated MMP activation and protecting tight junction proteins in the ischemic brains. Administration of 1× AGNHW for 7 days would not induce the accumulation of mercury in blood, liver, and kidney at day 14. Administration of 2× AGNHW and 4× AGNHW for 7 days increased the level of mercury in the kidney. For arsenic level, administration of 1× AGNHW for 7 days would increase the level of arsenic in the liver and blood without increase of arsenic in the kidney at day 14. Administration of 2× AGNHW and 4× AGNHW for 7 days would further increase the level of arsenic in the liver and blood. There is no influence on body weight, organ index, histological structures, and renal and liver functions. These results suggest that short-term treatment of AGNHW within 1 week should be safe and has neuroprotective effects against cerebral ischemia–reperfusion injury. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-21T13:14:25Z |
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| id | doaj.art-a742e578128748a08d2c257b533f8c7d |
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| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-21T13:14:25Z |
| publishDate | 2019-05-01 |
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| spelling | doaj.art-a742e578128748a08d2c257b533f8c7d2022-12-21T19:02:48ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Pharmacology1663-98122019-05-011010.3389/fphar.2019.00593447259Neuroprotective Effects and Hepatorenal Toxicity of Angong Niuhuang Wan Against Ischemia–Reperfusion Brain Injury in RatsBun Tsoi0Xingmiao Chen1Chong Gao2Songlin Wang3Sau Chu Yuen4Depo Yang5Jiangang Shen6School of Chinese Medicine, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong KongSchool of Chinese Medicine, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong KongSchool of Chinese Medicine, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong KongSchool of Chinese Medicine, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong KongSchool of Chinese Medicine, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong KongSchool of Pharmaceutical Science, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, ChinaSchool of Chinese Medicine, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong KongAngong Niuhuang Wan (AGNHW) is a classic prescription in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) used for stroke treatment, but its efficacies remain to be confirmed. With its arsenic- and mercury-containing materials, the application of AGNHW raises great safety concerns. Herein, we aim to explore the neuropharmacological effects against cerebral ischemia–reperfusion injury and evaluate the toxicological effects of AGNHW for better use. Male SD rats were subjected to 2 h of middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) and following 22 h of reperfusion. AGNHW (257 mg/kg, 1× AGNHW) were orally administered for pharmacological effects and 257, 514, and 1,028 mg/kg (equivalent to 1×, 2×, 4× AGNHW) were used for the toxicological study. The results revealed that AGNHW treatment reduced the infarct size and protected the blood–brain barrier (BBB) integrity in the MCAO rat ischemic stroke model. AGNHW treatment up-regulated bcl-2 expression and down-regulated the expressions of Bax, p47phox, inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), and 3-nitrotyrosine (3-NT), and inhibited the expressions and activities of matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2), MMP-9, and reserved tight junction protein zonula occludens-1 (ZO-1) and claudin-5 in the ischemic brains. These results indicated that the neuroprotective mechanisms of AGNHW could be associated with its antioxidant properties by inhibiting oxidative/nitrative stress-mediated MMP activation and protecting tight junction proteins in the ischemic brains. Administration of 1× AGNHW for 7 days would not induce the accumulation of mercury in blood, liver, and kidney at day 14. Administration of 2× AGNHW and 4× AGNHW for 7 days increased the level of mercury in the kidney. For arsenic level, administration of 1× AGNHW for 7 days would increase the level of arsenic in the liver and blood without increase of arsenic in the kidney at day 14. Administration of 2× AGNHW and 4× AGNHW for 7 days would further increase the level of arsenic in the liver and blood. There is no influence on body weight, organ index, histological structures, and renal and liver functions. These results suggest that short-term treatment of AGNHW within 1 week should be safe and has neuroprotective effects against cerebral ischemia–reperfusion injury.https://www.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fphar.2019.00593/fullAngong Niuhuang Wancerebral ischemia–reperfusion injuryblood–brain barrierheavy metalsafety |
| spellingShingle | Bun Tsoi Xingmiao Chen Chong Gao Songlin Wang Sau Chu Yuen Depo Yang Jiangang Shen Neuroprotective Effects and Hepatorenal Toxicity of Angong Niuhuang Wan Against Ischemia–Reperfusion Brain Injury in Rats Frontiers in Pharmacology Angong Niuhuang Wan cerebral ischemia–reperfusion injury blood–brain barrier heavy metal safety |
| title | Neuroprotective Effects and Hepatorenal Toxicity of Angong Niuhuang Wan Against Ischemia–Reperfusion Brain Injury in Rats |
| title_full | Neuroprotective Effects and Hepatorenal Toxicity of Angong Niuhuang Wan Against Ischemia–Reperfusion Brain Injury in Rats |
| title_fullStr | Neuroprotective Effects and Hepatorenal Toxicity of Angong Niuhuang Wan Against Ischemia–Reperfusion Brain Injury in Rats |
| title_full_unstemmed | Neuroprotective Effects and Hepatorenal Toxicity of Angong Niuhuang Wan Against Ischemia–Reperfusion Brain Injury in Rats |
| title_short | Neuroprotective Effects and Hepatorenal Toxicity of Angong Niuhuang Wan Against Ischemia–Reperfusion Brain Injury in Rats |
| title_sort | neuroprotective effects and hepatorenal toxicity of angong niuhuang wan against ischemia reperfusion brain injury in rats |
| topic | Angong Niuhuang Wan cerebral ischemia–reperfusion injury blood–brain barrier heavy metal safety |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fphar.2019.00593/full |
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