Chun-Fai Ng1, Chun-Hay Ko2, Chi-Man Koon3, Wai-Ching Chin4, Hiu Ching Sonya Themis Kwong5, Anthony Wing-Ip Lo6, Hing-Lok Wong7, Kwok-Pui Fung8, Clara Bik-San Lau9, Ping-Kuen Lam10, Wai Sang Poon11, Ping-Chung Leung12. 1. Institute of Chinese Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, New Territories, Hong Kong; State Key Laboratory of Phytochemistry & Plant Resources in West China, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, New Territories, Hong Kong. Electronic address: ncf0000@hotmail.com. 2. Institute of Chinese Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, New Territories, Hong Kong; State Key Laboratory of Phytochemistry & Plant Resources in West China, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, New Territories, Hong Kong. Electronic address: gohey@yahoo.com. 3. Institute of Chinese Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, New Territories, Hong Kong; State Key Laboratory of Phytochemistry & Plant Resources in West China, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, New Territories, Hong Kong. Electronic address: johnnykoon@cuhk.edu.hk. 4. Department of Surgery, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Prince of Wales Hospital, Shatin, New Territories, Hong Kong; Chow Tai Fook-Cheng Yu Tung Surgical Stem Cell Research Center, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong. Electronic address: donchin@surgery.cuhk.edu.hk. 5. Department of Surgery, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Prince of Wales Hospital, Shatin, New Territories, Hong Kong; Chow Tai Fook-Cheng Yu Tung Surgical Stem Cell Research Center, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong. Electronic address: b114332@mailserv.cuhk.edu.hk. 6. Department of Anatomical and Cellular Pathology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong. Electronic address: awilo@cuhk.edu.hk. 7. Institute of Chinese Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, New Territories, Hong Kong; State Key Laboratory of Phytochemistry & Plant Resources in West China, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, New Territories, Hong Kong. Electronic address: vhlwong@yahoo.com. 8. Institute of Chinese Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, New Territories, Hong Kong; State Key Laboratory of Phytochemistry & Plant Resources in West China, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, New Territories, Hong Kong; School of Biomedical Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, New Territories, Hong Kong. Electronic address: kpfung@cuhk.edu.hk. 9. Institute of Chinese Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, New Territories, Hong Kong; State Key Laboratory of Phytochemistry & Plant Resources in West China, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, New Territories, Hong Kong. Electronic address: claralau@cuhk.edu.hk. 10. Department of Surgery, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Prince of Wales Hospital, Shatin, New Territories, Hong Kong; Chow Tai Fook-Cheng Yu Tung Surgical Stem Cell Research Center, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong. Electronic address: lampingkuen@yahoo.com.hk. 11. Department of Surgery, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Prince of Wales Hospital, Shatin, New Territories, Hong Kong. Electronic address: wpoon@surgery.cuhk.edu.hk. 12. Institute of Chinese Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, New Territories, Hong Kong; State Key Laboratory of Phytochemistry & Plant Resources in West China, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, New Territories, Hong Kong. Electronic address: pingcleung@cuhk.edu.hk.
Abstract
ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Traumatic brain injury (TBI) has an incident rate of 200-300 people per 100,000 annually in the developed countries. TBI has relatively high incidence at an early age and may cause long-term physical disability. Patients suffered from severe TBI would have motor and neuropsychological malfunctions, affecting their daily activities. Traditionally, Gastrodia elata Blume is a Chinese Medicines which was used for the head diseases, while their efficiency on reducing brain damage was still largely unknown. In the present study, we aimed to examine the effect of water extract of G. elata Blume (GE) against TBI and elucidate its underlying mechanism. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Sprague-Dawley rats were treated with GE for 7 days, immediately after controlled cortical impact-induced TBI. Impaired neurobehavioral functioning was measured on day 3 and 6 after TBI. Histology of TBI was examined to assess the extent of inflammation, and the expressions of pro-inflammatory cytokines were examined by immunofluorescence study on day 7. RESULTS: GE treatment significantly improved the impaired locomotor functions induced by TBI. GE treatment reduced inflammation and gliosis in the penumbral area. The increase in brain levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines interleukin-6 and tumor necrosis factor-alpha observed in non-GE treated TBI rats were also reversed. CONCLUSIONS: GE treatment attenuated the locomotor deficit caused by TBI. The anti-inflammatory activity might be mediated by inhibition of pro-inflammatory cytokines responses in the TBI-brain.
ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Traumatic brain injury (TBI) has an incident rate of 200-300 people per 100,000 annually in the developed countries. TBI has relatively high incidence at an early age and may cause long-term physical disability. Patients suffered from severe TBI would have motor and neuropsychological malfunctions, affecting their daily activities. Traditionally, Gastrodia elata Blume is a Chinese Medicines which was used for the head diseases, while their efficiency on reducing brain damage was still largely unknown. In the present study, we aimed to examine the effect of water extract of G. elata Blume (GE) against TBI and elucidate its underlying mechanism. MATERIALS AND METHODS:Sprague-Dawley rats were treated with GE for 7 days, immediately after controlled cortical impact-induced TBI. Impaired neurobehavioral functioning was measured on day 3 and 6 after TBI. Histology of TBI was examined to assess the extent of inflammation, and the expressions of pro-inflammatory cytokines were examined by immunofluorescence study on day 7. RESULTS:GE treatment significantly improved the impaired locomotor functions induced by TBI. GE treatment reduced inflammation and gliosis in the penumbral area. The increase in brain levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines interleukin-6 and tumor necrosis factor-alpha observed in non-GE treated TBI rats were also reversed. CONCLUSIONS:GE treatment attenuated the locomotor deficit caused by TBI. The anti-inflammatory activity might be mediated by inhibition of pro-inflammatory cytokines responses in the TBI-brain.