Influence of naringin on oxidative stress and functional recovery after traumatic brain injury in rats

Objective To study the value of naringin to traumatic brain injury in rats and its possible mechanism.Methods Forty-eight rats were divided into two groups,which received neurological scoring and biochemical test respectively.The rats in each group were randomly divided into four subgroups,six each.Group A was sham-operated control.Group B received traumatic brain injury.Group C was treated with naringin for 7 days after traumatic brain injury.Group D was given naringin continually for 7 days either pro-or post-traumatic brain injury.Traumatic brain injury was induced by weight drop technique and naringin was given orally 50 mg/kg per day.Neurological score,superoxide dismutase and malondialdehyde in serum and damaged brain cortex were detected by small lesion scoring and biochemical methods respectively.Results Compared with group A,superoxide dismutase was elevated,and malondialdehyde was reduced in group B.However,they were retrieved by naringin treatment,especially in group D.Compared with group A,group B showed more obvious sensorimotor dysfunction.Compared with that in group B,neurolodical behavior score was reduced in group C and D.The neurological score was lower in group D than that in group C.Conclusion Naringin treatment can relieve the neuropathological damages and improve the functional recovery.The protective effect is related to the oxidative stress after traumatic brain injury.