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Effects of notoginseng leaf triterpenes on small molecule metabolism after cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury
Lei Wang1,2, Ting Zhu1, Hui-Bo Xu3
1Beijing Key Laboratory of Innovative Drug Discovery of Traditional Chinese Medicine (Natural Medicine) and Translational Medicine, Institute of Medicinal Plant Development, Peking Union Medical College and Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Key Laboratory of Bioactive Substances and Resources Utilization of Chinese Herbal Medicine, Ministry of Education, Institute of Medicinal Plant Development, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Key Laboratory of New Drug Discovery based on Classic Chinese Medicine Prescription, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, China.
Background:
Notoginseng leaf triterpenes (PNGL) is believed to have neuroprotective effects via the inhibition of inflammatory response and neuronal apoptosis. However, its mechanisms underlying the anti-ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury effects on the regulation of small molecule metabolism in rat brain remains unclear. The purpose of this study was thus to explore the mechanisms of PNGL on the regulation of small molecule metabolism in rat brain after I/R injury using matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-mass spectrometry imaging (MALDI-MSI).
Methods:
As a model of in vivo cerebral I/R injury, male Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were established with a middle cerebral artery occlusion/reperfusion (MCAO/R) model after PNGL administration with 40 mg·kg-1 through intraperitoneal injection (i.p.) for 7 days. We assessed the neurological behavior, regional cerebral blood flow (r CBF), neuron injury, and spatial distribution of metabolic small molecules.
Results:
Our in vivo results suggested that PNGL increased cerebral blood flow and relieved neurological dysfunction. Furthermore, using MALDI-MSI, we demonstrated that PNGL regulated 16 endogenous small molecules implicated in metabolic networks including tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle, adenosine triphosphate (ATP) metabolism, malate-aspartate shuttle, metal ions, and antioxidants underwent noticeable changes after reperfusion for 24 h.
Conclusions:
PNGL is a novel cerebrovascular agent that can improve cerebral blood flow and attenuate adverse neurological disorders. The mechanisms are closely correlated with relative metabolic pathways, which offers insight into exploring new mechanisms in PNGL for the treatment of cerebral I/R injury.
