Neuroprotection by resveratrol against traumatic brain injury in rats

Oxidative stress after traumatic brain injury may contribute to many of the pathophysiologic changes. Resveratrol, naturally present at high concentration in grape skin, seeds, and red wine, has significant antioxidant properties in a variety of in vitro and in vivo models. In this study, we investigate the effect of resveratrol on oxidative stress after traumatic brain injury in rat model. A total of 54 adult Wistar albino male rats weighing 250-300 g were used. The rats were allocated into three groups. The first group was control (sham-operated) group in which only a craniotomy was performed, the others were trauma and resveratrol groups. A 100 mg/kg single dose of resveratrol, freshly prepared by dissolving in 50% ethanol and diluted in physiological saline (2%), for resveratrol group, and 1 ml ethanol (2%) for trauma group, was administered intraperitoneally immediately after trauma. Weight-drop method was used for achieving head trauma. Then, all groups were separated into three subgroups for biochemical analysis, brain water content and histopathological assessment following trauma. Twenty-four hours after trauma brain water content and malondialdehyde (MDA), glutathione (GSH), nitric oxide (NO), xanthine oxidase (XO) levels of traumatic hemisphere were evaluated. Quantitative histopathological analysis was performed on 14th day postinjury. Trauma caused a significant increase in MDA, XO, NO levels and decrease in GSH level as compared to control group. Resveratrol administration significantly reduced MDA, XO and NO levels, increased GSH level, and also attenuated tissue lesion area. Our results indicate that treatment with resveratrol immediately after traumatic brain injury reduce oxidative stress and lesion volume. Future studies involving different doses and the dose-response relationship could promise better results.