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Protective effect of Daming capsule against chronic cerebral ischemia
Xiaodan Song1,2, Wenliang Zhu3, Ran An4
1Institute of Clinical Pharmacology, The 2nd Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Xuefu Road, Harbin, Heilongjiang, China. danxsong@163.com.
Insights
Daming capsule (DMC) demonstrates protective effects against chronic cerebral ischemia (CCI)-induced vascular dementia (VD) in rats. Its antioxidant actions improve cognitive function and reduce nerve damage, offering a potential therapeutic strategy for VD.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Pharmacology
- Traditional Chinese Medicine
Background:
- Chronic cerebral ischemia (CCI) is a primary cause of vascular dementia (VD), linked to cholesterol imbalance.
- Lipid-lowering agents show promise for VD treatment.
- Daming capsule (DMC), a herbal formula, is traditionally used for hyperlipidemia.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate DMC's protective effects against CCI-induced VD.
- To elucidate the mechanisms underlying DMC's potential therapeutic actions.
Main Methods:
- Network pharmacology identified DMC compounds targeting CCI-related proteins.
- In vivo studies used a rat model of permanent bilateral carotid artery occlusion (2-VO).
- Cognitive function was assessed using the Morris water maze (MWM); brain tissue and biochemical markers were analyzed.
Main Results:
- Network pharmacology indicated multiple CCI-related targets for DMC components.
- DMC (200 mg/kg) improved cognitive deficits and attenuated neuropathology in 2-VO rats.
- DMC modulated oxidative stress markers, decreasing malondialdehyde and increasing antioxidant enzyme activities.
Conclusions:
- DMC exhibits protective effects against CCI-induced cognitive dysfunction and nerve injury.
- The therapeutic benefits of DMC are likely mediated by its antioxidant properties.
Background:
Accumulating evidence has shown that chronic cerebral ischemia (CCI) is one of the major causes of vascular dementia (VD) characterized by dysregulated cholesterol homeostasis and lipoprotein disturbances. Positive value of lipid-lowering agents has been widely evaluated for the treatment of VD. In the present study, we investigated whether Daming capsule (DMC) protected against CCI-induced VD and its possible mechanisms of action. DMC is a multi-herbal formula composed of Rheum palmatum L., Cassia obtusifolia L., Salvia miltiorrhiza, and Panax ginseng C.A., which has been used to treat hyperlipidemia for years in China.
Methods:
A network pharmacology method was established to reveal whether DMC contained any chemical constituent targeting CCI-related proteins. Furthermore, the potential anti-CCI effects of DMC (100 mg/kg or 200 mg/kg) administered for 30 days were investigated in vivo on rats that were subjected to permanent bilateral occlusion of the carotid arteries (2-VO). Spatial learning and memory abilities were evaluated using a Morris water maze (MWM) and morphological changes of cerebral cortex and hippocampus were assessed using hematoxylin and eosin staining. Moreover, the lipid peroxidation levels and antioxidative capabilities were measured using biochemical analysis.
Results:
Our network pharmacology analysis revealed the existence of multiple CCI-related chemical-target interactions in DMC, suggesting a potential protective effect. An in vivo experiment verified that 200 mg/kg DMC improved cognitive deficits of 2-VO rats in the MWM test and attenuated pathological alterations in both the cerebral cortex and the hippocampus. Biochemical assays indicated that DMC decreased malondialdehyde levels and CCI-elevated superoxide dismutase activities, but increased the activities of glutathione peroxidase and catalase.
Conclusions:
Our findings suggested that DMC protected against cognitive dysfunction and nerve injuries caused by CCI, which is most likely related to its antioxidant actions.
