Neuroprotective Effects of Pine Bark and Aloe vera on the Locomotor Activity in Focal Cerebral Ischemia: Possible Antioxidant Mechanisms

Free radical induced neural damage is concerned in brain ischemia and antioxidants are reported to have neuroprotective activity. We investigated the protective effects of antioxidant plants that are Pine Bark and Aloe vera extracts against movement activity and oxidative stress in ischemia rats. Fifty rats were randomly separated into six groups (n=7); control group, middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO), MCAO+pine bark 1 (25 mg/kg), MCAO+pine bark 2 (05 mg/kg), MCAO+Aloe vera 1 (50 mg/kg), MCAO+Aloe vera 2 (100 mg/kg). All extracts were infused (IP) to animals for 14 days before MCAO. Then the middle cerebral artery of rats was occluded for 2 h and reperfused for 22 h. The brain malondialdehyde (MDA), Thiol levels and locomotor activity on rotarod test were assessed. The MDA levels of brain were non-significantly increased in MCAO group vs control group. The thiol level of brain was significantly decreased in MCAO group compared to control group (p