Neuroprotective Effects of Cyperus rotundus Rhizome Extract on Ischemic Brain Injury: Expression profile of Bax, Bcl2, Bad and Bclxl Genes

Reperfusion injuries are caused following the return of blood supply after an ischemic. Cyperus rotundus on ischemic brain injury were administered to a rat Model of transient global ischemia/ reperfusion. Nearly 18 male Wistar rats with an average weight of 250-300 g were selected and randomly divided into three groups (control, ischemia, ischemia + extract). Rats were anesthetized with pentobarbital sodium. In both ischemia and treatment groups after anesthesia by pentobarbital sodium, common carotid arteries were completely occluded for 20 minutes, which is followed by reperfusion. In the treatment group, the ethanol extract of cyperus rotundus was gavaged to the animals during one week, 4 days before induction of ischemia and 3 days after it. Four days later the animals were killed and the TUNEL test was assessed following to removing all hippocampus. The results of the TUNEL- test showed a significant elevation of positive cells the CA1 region of the hippocampus in the ischemia group compared to the control group (P <0.01). It was also indicated a significant difference among the ischemia and treatment groups (P <0.01). Bax/Bcl2 and Bad/Bcl-xl gene expression ratios significantly decreased in the treatment group (P <0.01). Therefore, it can be concluded that the ethanol extract of cyperus rotundus might have a role in controlling of apoptosis result from ischemia -reperfusion brain injury.