EVALUATION OF STROKE PREVENTIVE EFFECT OF ETHANOLIC EXTRACT OF VENTILAGO MADRASASPATANA GAERTN AGAINST BILATERAL CAROTID ARTERY OCCLUSION (BCAO) INDUCED STROKE IN RATS

Abstract

The plant Ventilago madrasapatana Gaertn commonly known as red creeper belongs to family Rhamnaceae is large
wood climber plant distributed in various parts of Southern India. Different parts of this plant are used for treating various
conditions such as inflammation, diabetes, jaundice, piles etc. The present study is to evaluate the stroke preventive effect of
ethanolic extract of whole plant of Ventilago madrasapatana Gaertn (EVM) against the global model of ischemia in rats. In the
present study, the animals were pre-treated with different doses (250 mg/kg, 500mg/kg and 750 mg/kg p.o) of EVM for a period
of 30 days. After 30 days, stroke was induced by Bilateral Common Carotid Artery Occlusion (BCCAO) for 30 mins followed by
1h and 4h reperfusion. Behavioral, histological and in vivo antioxidant parameters were measured. The test groups (500mg/kg and
750 mg/kg p.o.) showed significant recovery in behavioral testing when compared to control group. The levels of antioxidant
enzymes in brain such as reduced glutathione, superoxide dismutase and catalase had been increased and the lipid peroxidation
had been decreased in the pretreated groups when compared to control. Histological studies performed by TTC staining were used
to identify the ischaemic area and intensity of ischaemia. From this, we have observed that the ischaemic area in prophylactically
treated groups was reduced. In conclusion, Ethanolic extract of whole plant of Ventilago madrasapatana Gaertn produced
protective effects in global cerebral ischemia as evident from reduction in behavioral score and neuronal damage.