Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 29, 2026
Induction of Acute Ischemic Stroke in Mice Using the Distal Middle Artery Occlusion Technique
Published on: December 15, 2023
Hesperidin ameliorates functional and histological outcome and reduces neuroinflammation in experimental stroke
Syed Shadab Raza1, Mohd Moshahid Khan, Ajmal Ahmad
1Neurotoxicology Laboratory, Department of Medical Elementology & Toxicology, Jamia Hamdard (Hamdard University), Hamdard Nagar, New Delhi-110062, India.
Abstract:
Incidence of stroke is considered to be a major cause of death throughout the world. The middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) for 2h followed by 22h of reperfusion model was used in male Wistar rats to study the protection of stroke by hesperidin. Hesperidin administration (50mg/kg b.wt.) once daily for 15days has improved the infarct size, reduced the neurological deficits in terms of behaviors, and protected the elevated level of thiobarbituric acid reactive species (TBARS). A significantly depleted activity of antioxidant enzymes, glutathione peroxidase (GPx), glutathione reductase (GR), catalase (CAT) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) and content of glutathione (GSH) in MCAO group were protected significantly in MCAO group pretreated with hesperidin. Moreover, inflammatory mediators like TNF-α, IL-1β levels, expression of iNOS and glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) were significantly attenuated in H+MCAO group as compared to MCAO group. In conclusion, prophylactic treatment with hesperidin ameliorated the functional and histological outcomes with elevated endogenous antioxidants status as well as reduced induction of proinflammatory cytokines in MCA occluded rat. We theorized that hesperidin is among the pharmacological agents that reduce free radicals and its associated inflammation and have been found to limit the extent of brain damage following stroke.
Insights
Hesperidin treatment protected rats against stroke by reducing brain damage and inflammation. This natural compound improved antioxidant levels and neurological function after middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO).
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Pharmacology
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Stroke is a leading global cause of mortality.
- Middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) is a common experimental model for studying stroke.
- Oxidative stress and inflammation play critical roles in stroke-induced brain injury.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the neuroprotective effects of hesperidin in a rat model of ischemic stroke.
- To evaluate hesperidin's impact on oxidative stress markers, antioxidant enzyme activity, and inflammatory mediators.
- To assess hesperidin's efficacy in improving functional and histological outcomes post-stroke.
Main Methods:
- A middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) model was established in male Wistar rats for 2 hours followed by 22 hours of reperfusion.
- Rats were administered hesperidin (50 mg/kg body weight) daily for 15 days prior to MCAO.
- Infarct size, neurological deficits, thiobarbituric acid reactive species (TBARS), antioxidant enzyme activities (GPx, GR, CAT, SOD), glutathione (GSH) content, and inflammatory markers (TNF-α, IL-1β, iNOS, GFAP) were measured.
Main Results:
- Hesperidin treatment significantly reduced infarct size and neurological deficits in MCAO rats.
- Hesperidin administration protected against elevated TBARS levels and restored depleted antioxidant enzyme activities and GSH content.
- Prophylactic hesperidin significantly attenuated the levels of inflammatory mediators (TNF-α, IL-1β) and the expression of iNOS and GFAP.
Conclusions:
- Prophylactic treatment with hesperidin demonstrates significant neuroprotective effects in an experimental stroke model.
- Hesperidin ameliorates functional and histological outcomes by enhancing endogenous antioxidant status and reducing inflammation.
- Hesperidin shows potential as a pharmacological agent to mitigate brain damage by reducing free radicals and associated inflammation following stroke.
