Protective effect of polysaccharide from the root of Rhizoma Corydalis on focal ischemic cerebral infarct induced by middle cerebral artery occlusion in rats

To investigate the effect of polysaccharide from the root of Rhizoma Corydalis (YhPS-1) on focal cerebral infarct in ischemia-reperfusion injured rats, sixty Wister rats were randomly divided into six groups (n = 10): sham group, control group, YhPS-1-treatment groups (20, 40, and 80 mg/kg), and positive medicine breviscapine table group, respectively. The models of focal cerebral infarct and carotid thrombosis were established, and neurobehavioral scores, the area of cerebral infarct, water content of brain, clotting time and thrombosis time were used to evaluate the effect of YhPS-1. Experiments indicated that YhPS-1-treated groups significantly improved neurological deficits, reduced the area of cerebral infarct and brain water content, and prolonged clotting time and thrombosis time in comparison with control group. These findings suggested that YhPS-1 played a crucial protective role in cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury.   Key words: Polysaccharide of Rhizoma Corydalis, cerebral infarct, blood clotting time, thrombosis time, free radicals.