An extract of Dracocephalum moldevica (DML) was found to exert protective effects on cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury (CIRI); however, the mechanisms underlying the observed actions of this plant-derived mixture remain to be determined. Thus, the aim of this study was to examine the influence of DML on CIRI rat model induced by middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO). The following parameters were measured: (1) viable neurons in the infarcted area using Nissl staining; and (2) immunohistochemistry and Western blot were employed to determine protein expression levels of p53, bcl-2 associated X protein (bax) and B-cell lymphoma-2 (bcl-2), three biomarkers of apoptosis. MCAO significantly decreased the number of viable cortical pyramidal neurons in the infarcted area, while treatment with DML extract significantly elevated the number of viable neurons. MCAO was found to significantly elevate in gene expression levels of p53 and protein expression levels bax accompanied by diminished protein expression levels of bcl-2. Prior administration of DML extract produced marked reduction in gene expression levels of p53 and protein expression levels bax but increased in protein expression levels of bcl-2. Data suggested apoptosis was initiated in MCAO and that DML was effective in treating CIRI via an anti-apoptotic action as evidenced by inhibition of gene expression levels of p53 and protein expression levels of bax with concomitant elevation in protein expression levels of bcl-2. Our findings suggest that extract of DML may prove beneficial in treatment of cerebrovascular disorders.

中文翻译：

---

凋亡参与了霉菌对脑缺血再灌注大鼠模型的保护作用。

鼠尾草提取物（DML）被发现对脑缺血-再灌注损伤（CIRI）具有保护作用。然而，这种植物来源混合物的观察到的作用机理尚待确定。因此，本研究的目的是研究DML对脑中动脉闭塞（MCAO）诱导的CIRI大鼠模型的影响。测量以下参数：（1）使用尼氏染色在梗塞区域中的存活神经元；（2）采用免疫组织化学和Western blot检测凋亡的三种生物标志物p53，bcl-2相关X蛋白（bax）和B细胞淋巴瘤2（bcl-2）的蛋白表达水平。MCAO显着减少了梗塞区域中存活的皮质锥体神经元的数量，而DML提取物处理可显着提高存活神经元的数量。发现MCAO可以显着提高p53的基因表达水平和bax的蛋白质表达水平，同时降低bcl-2的蛋白质表达水平。预先施用DML提取物可使p53的基因表达水平显着降低，而bax的蛋白质表达水平却显着降低，但bcl-2的蛋白质表达水平却升高。数据表明MCAO中启动了凋亡，而DML通过抗凋亡作用有效治疗CIRI，这通过抑制p53的基因表达水平和bax的蛋白表达水平并同时提高bcl-2的蛋白表达来证明。我们的发现表明DML提取物可能被证明对治疗脑血管疾病有益。发现MCAO可以显着提高p53的基因表达水平和bax的蛋白质表达水平，同时降低bcl-2的蛋白质表达水平。预先施用DML提取物可使p53的基因表达水平显着降低，而bax的蛋白质表达水平却显着降低，但bcl-2的蛋白质表达水平却升高。数据表明MCAO中启动了凋亡，而DML通过抗凋亡作用有效治疗CIRI，这通过抑制p53的基因表达水平和bax的蛋白表达水平并同时提高bcl-2的蛋白表达来证明。我们的发现表明DML提取物可能被证明对治疗脑血管疾病有益。发现MCAO可以显着提高p53的基因表达水平和bax的蛋白质表达水平，同时降低bcl-2的蛋白质表达水平。预先施用DML提取物可使p53的基因表达水平显着降低，而bax的蛋白质表达水平却显着降低，但bcl-2的蛋白质表达水平却升高。数据表明MCAO中启动了凋亡，而DML通过抗凋亡作用有效治疗CIRI，这通过抑制p53的基因表达水平和bax的蛋白表达水平并同时提高bcl-2的蛋白表达来证明。我们的发现表明DML提取物可能被证明对治疗脑血管疾病有益。