Microglia, apoptosis and interleukin-1 beta expression in the effect of Sophora japonica L. on cerebral infarct induced by ischemia-reperfusion in rats

Sophora Japonica L. (SJ) is a traditional Chinese herb used to cool blood, stop bleeding and to treat hemorrhoids with bleeding. Although several recent studies found that both SJ and Ginkgo biloba have the same components of quercetin and rutin, only Ginkgo biloba has been widely used to treat cerebrovascular disorders and dementia in humans. This study investigated the effect of SJ on cerebral infarct in rats. A total of 66 Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were studied. Focal cerebral infarct was established by occluding the bilateral common carotid arteries and the right middle cerebral artery for 90 minutes. After 24 hours of reperfusion, the neurological status was evaluated. The rats were then killed, and brain tissue was stained with 2,3,5-triphenyl-tetrazolium chloride. The grading scale of neurological deficit and the ratio of cerebral infarction area were used as an index to evaluate the effect of SJ on cerebral infarct. In addition, the number of ED1 and interleukin-I beta immunostaining positive cells, and apoptotic cells were measured in the cerebral infarction zone. The results indicated that pre-treatment with 100 or 200 mg/kg SJ and post-treatment with 200 mg/kg SJ significantly reduced the grade of neurological deficit and the ratio of cerebral infarction area. In addition, pre-treatment with 200 mg/kg SJ also significantly reduced ED1 and interleukin-ID immunostaining positive cells, and apoptotic cells in ischemia-reperfusion cerebral infarct rats. This study demonstrated that SJ could reduce the cerebral infarction area and neurological deficit induced by ischemia-reperfusion in rats, suggesting its potential as a treatment for cerebral infarct in humans. This effect of SJ involves its suppressive action of microglia, interleukin-1 beta and apoptosis.