Protective Effect of Alcoholic Extract of Amla (Emblica offi cinalis) Fruits on Cerebral Reperfusion Injury in Rats

Ischemia-reperfusion injury is a phenomenon whereby cellular damage in a hypoxic organ is accentuated following the restoration of oxygen delivery. Wistar rats of either sex (250-300 g) were treated for 15 days with alcoholic extract of Emblica offi cinalis fruits (250-500mg/kg) prior to ischemic reperfusion. After 15 days ischemia was produced by clamping the right common carotid artery for 25 min and reperfusion for 40 min by unclamping. Brain was dissected out to prepare a homogenate to measure the level of malondialdehyde, superoxide dismutase, catalase, vitamin C and protein estimation. Animals subjected to ischemic reperfusion without any treatment were included as model control and animals treated with vitamin E were included as a standard. Animals subjected to ischemic reperfusion without any treatment showed higher level of oxidative enzymes and lower level of protective enzymes as compared with the animals treated with alcoholic extract of amla fruits. In histopathology, protection against the injury in the animals treated with alcoholic extract of amla fruits was noted. Key words: Emblica offi cinalis, ischemia-reperfusion injury, malondialdehyde.