The Effect of Scutellariae Radix on Ischemia Induced Brain Injury in Rats

Scutellaria Radix, originated from Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi, is one of the most important medicine in traditional Oriental medicine, and possesses anti-bacterial activity and sedative effects, can be applied in the treatment of a range of conditions including diarrhea and hepatitis. It is reported that chronic global ischemia induces neuronal damage in selective, vulnerable regions of the brain, especially the hippocampus and cerebral cortex. In the present study, to investigate the effect of Scutellaria Radix extract on cerebral disease, the changes of regional cerebral blood flow and pial arterial diameter on ischemia/reperfusion state was determinated by Laser-Doppler Flowmetry and some parameters concerned with oxidative stress also measured. When SRe were administered for five days with the concentration of 100 mg/kg, GSH activity significantly increased. But SRe administeration showed no significant change in lipid peroxidation. When the activities of CAT, Cu, Zn-SOD and GSH were measured, CAT and GSH were activated by SRe administration. When 1 and 3 ㎍/㎖ SRe was applied to the neuronal cell cultures, the quantities of LDH was significantly reduced when compared with cultures treated only with NMDA. Through this study, it can be concluded that the ischemia/reperfusion induced brain stress may have contributed to cerebral damage in rats, and the present study provides clear evidence for the beneficial effect of SRe on ischemia induced brain injury.