Protective effect of vitexin reduces sevoflurane-induced neuronal apoptosis through HIF-1α, VEGF and p38 MAPK signaling pathway in vitro and in newborn rats.

Previous studies have demonstrated that Vitexin possesses antihypertensive, anti-inflammatory and potential anticancer effects. The present study aimed to investigate whether the protective effect of vitexin protects against sevoflurane-induced neuronal apoptosis and the underlying mechanisms of this protective effect. The results demonstrated that Vitexin pretreatment significantly reduced neuronal apoptosis, and inhibited caspase-3 activity, apoptosis regulator BAX protein expression and malondialdehyde levels in sevoflurane-induced newborn rats. In addition, Vitexin pretreatment increased superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase activity. Furthermore, it was revealed that treatment with vitexin induced hypoxia inducible factor 1α subunit (HIF-1α) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) protein expression, and suppressed phosphorylated-p38 MAP kinase (p38) protein expression in sevoflurane-induced newborn rat. Together, the results of the current study suggest that the protective effect of vitexin reduces sevoflurane-induced neuronal apoptosis through HIF-1α-, VEGF- and p38-associated signaling pathways in newborn rats.