Effect of combined treatment with curcumin and candesartan on ischemic brain damage in mice

The combined effects of curcumin and candesartan were investigated in brain ischemia induced by middle cerebral artery (MCA) occlusion (MCAO). Male mice were classified into 5 groups. The mice were killed 24 hours after MCAO, and each group was divided into 2 halves. In one half, brain homogenate was collected for antioxidant enzyme activity determination, and in the other half, samples were obtained for red color intensity determination in brain slices. The untreated group exhibited significantly reduced cerebral blood flow, increased lipid peroxide levels and heart rate, decreased superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione-S-transferase (GST) activity, and reduced red color intensity compared with the sham group. Combination treatment with curcumin and candesartan significantly restored SOD and GST activity, thiobarbituric acid reactive substances, heart rate, blood flow, and red color intensity compared with the untreated group. The use of each drug alone significantly restored SOD and blood flow compared with the sham and untreated groups, heart rate decreased with curcumin alone, and red color intensity and nitric oxide level increased with candesartan alone. These results indicate that curcumin synergistically enhances the inhibitory action of candesartan on brain ischemia through suppression of blood flow changes and oxidative stress via antioxidant properties, suggesting beneficial combined effects of curcumin and candesartan on ischemic brain damage.