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    Rhubarb Attenuates Cerebral Edema via Inhibition of the Extracellular Signal-regulated Kinase Pathway Following Traumatic Brain Injury in Rats

    Zhaoyu Yang1, Rong Fan2, Peng Sun3, Hanjin Cui4, Weijun Peng4, Jiekun Luo4, Chunhu Zhang4, Xingui Xiong4, Wei Huang4, Wei Liu4★★ Corresponding author

    1. 1Department of Integrated Traditional Chinese Medicine, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, 410008, China.
    2. 2Department of Key Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Medicine for Classical Theory, Ministry of Education, Shangdong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan 250355, China.
    3. 3Department of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, 2nd Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, 410011 Changsha, China.
    4. 4Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Xiangya Hosipital, Central South University, 410008 Changsha, China.

    CORRESPONDENCE

    Wei Liu

    Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Xiangya Hosipital, Central South University, 410008 Changsha, China.

    lwei2001@tom.com

    Received: 22-06-2017; Revised: 05-07-2017; Accepted: 20-02-2018.

    Volume 14, Issue 53 · pp. 134–9 · PUBLISHED 20 February 2018 · DOI: 10.4103/pm.pm_218_17

    View on Pharmacogn. Mag. original site ↗

    ABSTRACT

    Background: Rhubarb is a traditional Chinese medicine for treating traumatic brain injury (TBI). Purpose: The purpose of this study is to elucidate the potential mechanism of rhubarb by suppressing extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) to ameliorate brain edema. Materials and Methods: Sprague-Dawley rats were separated into four groups at random. One group received 3 g/kg rhubarb, and another group received 12 g/kg rhubarb, and the vehicle group and sham group were administered the same dose of saline solution. The blood-brain barrier disruption and edema were detected by Evans blue extravasation and water content, respectively. ERK, Matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP-9), and zonula occluden-1 (ZO-1) in the damaged tissue were measured by western blot analysis and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. Results: Rhubarb attenuated the brain edema after TBI, especially at the dose of 12 g/kg. Rhubarb significantly suppressed ERK, down-regulated MMP-9, and up-regulated ZO-1. Rhubarb might be a prospective therapeutic regimen to decrease edema in TBI. Conclusions: Rhubarb alleviates the edema by restraining the ERK signaling pathway. Our results contribute to the validation of the traditional use of rhubarb in the treatment of TBI and its mechanism.

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      Yang, Z., Fan, R., Sun, P., Cui, H., Peng, W., Luo, J., Zhang, C., Xiong, X., Huang, W., & Liu, W. (2018). Rhubarb Attenuates Cerebral Edema via Inhibition of the Extracellular Signal-regulated Kinase Pathway Following Traumatic Brain Injury in Rats. Pharmacognosy Magazine, 14(53), 134–9. https://doi.org/10.4103/pm.pm_218_17