Investigation of Neuroprotective Effect of n-Hexane Extract of Cissampelos pareira in Ischemic Stroke-Induced Nerve Damage and Underlying Mechanisms

Objective: Cissampelos pareira Linn. (Menispermaceae) has been reported for improving memory and cognitive behavior, and also as a folk remedy, for various neurodegenerative disorders. We investigated Cissampelos pareira for evaluating its neuroprotective effect on rodent model of focal cerebral ischemia. Methods: Male Sprague–Dawley rats (270-300 g) were subjected to permanent middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO). The animals were divided into five groups as control, MCAO, and MCAO + Cissampelos pareira (n-hexane, ethyl acetate (EtOAc), and methanol (MeOH) extracts; 50 mg/kg; n = 14). The expression of various inflammatory factors and enzymes including cyclooxygenase (COX-2), c-Jun N-terminal Kinase (p-JNK), and nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells (p-NF-κB) was detected in response to disease and extracts by immunohistochemistry and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results: The n-hexane extract (LD₅₀> 5.0 g/kg) reduced the infarction area significantly from in n-hexane extract + MCAO group, reversed neuronal death (P <.01), and relieved the neurobehavioral deficits. The reduced levels of antioxidant enzymes (GST, GSH, CAT, SOD, and GPx), in case of MCAO were significantly elevated in response to n-hexane extract. 1,2-benzenedicarboxylic acid was detected (through gas chromatography/mass spectrometry) as the major component in n-hexane extract. Conclusion: n-hexane extract has the potential to be of therapeutic value in stroke patients, and thus further studies are warranted to elucidate the neuroprotective effects of this extract.