Neuroprotective effects of arbutin against oxygen and glucose deprivation-induced oxidative stress and neuroinflammation in rat cortical neurons

Abstract

Abstract In this study, the neuroprotective potential of arbutin (100 µmol L −1 ) pre-treatment and post-treatment against oxygen/ glucose deprivation (OGD) and reoxygenation (R) induced ischemic injury in cultured rat cortical neurons was explored. The OGD (60 min) and reoxygenation (24 h) treatment significantly ( p < 0.001) compromised the antioxidant defence in cultured neurons. Subsequently, an increase ( p < 0.001) in lipid peroxidation and inflammatory cytokines (tumour necrosis factor-α and nuclear factor kappa-B) declined neuron survival. In pre- and post-condition experiments, treatment with arbutin enhanced both survival ( p < 0.01) and integrity ( p < 0.05) of cultured neurons. Results showed that arbutin protects ( p < 0.05) against peroxidative changes, inflammation, and enhanced the antioxidant activity ( e.g., glutathione, superoxide dismutase and catalase) in cultured neurons subjected to OGD/R. It can be inferred that arbutin could protect against ischemic injuries and stroke. The anti-ischemic activity of arbutin can arrest post-stroke damage to the brain.