Protective Effects of Chinese Herbal Medicine Rhizoma drynariae in Rats After Traumatic Brain Injury and Identification of Active Compound
Authors: Xi Huang
Ping Ren
Yang Wang
Zian Xia
Jian Wang
Jing Zhou
Zeng-Jin Yang
Haigang Li
Lin Zhu
Jintao Yu
Michael Hong
Tao Tang
Min Luo
Wenzhu Wang
Journal: Molecular neurobiology (2016)
Discipline: NEUROSCIENCE & BEHAVIOR
Keywords: Microglia; Rhizoma drynariae; Traumatic brain injury; UPLC.
Affiliations: Department of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, 87 Xiangya Road, Changsha, 410008, China., Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine, School of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, 720 Rutland Ave, Ross Bldg 370B, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA., Department of Otolaryngology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, 87 Xiangya Road, Changsha, 410008, China., Office of Good Clinical Practice, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, 87 Xiangya Road, Changsha, 410008, China., Department of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, 87 Xiangya Road, Changsha, 410008, China. ., Institute of TCM-Related Depressive Comorbidity, Nanjing University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 138 Xianling Road, Nanjing, 210064, Jiangsu, China. ., Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine, School of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, 720 Rutland Ave, Ross Bldg 370B, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA. .

Abstract:  Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a leading cause of death and disability in the USA. Effective therapeutic strategies for TBI are needed, and increasing attention is turning toward traditional herbal medicine. Rhizoma drynariae is a traditional Chinese medicine that has immunomodulatory and anti-inflammatory effects. Here, using the controlled cortical impact model of TBI in rats, we examined whether oral administration of R. drynariae can reduce TBI-induced brain injury in rats. We also identified the likely active compound among its four major phytochemicals in decoction. We found that post-treatment with R. drynariae decreased brain lesion volume, improved neurologic and cognitive function, and reduced anxiety- and depression-like behaviors. These changes were accompanied by reduced blood levels of IL-6 and increased IL-10. R. drynariae treatment also reversed the TBI-induced decrease in blood monocyte numbers and percentage of blood CD3 and CD4 T lymphocytes while inhibiting microglial/macrophage activation. Furthermore, by using ultra performance liquid chromatography and comparing retention times with authentic standards, we identified eriodictyol as the putative active compound of R. drynariae extract in the blood of rats with TBI. These novel findings indicate that the traditional Chinese herbal medicine R. drynariae protects brain against TBI-induced brain injury, possibly via immune-promoting, anti-inflammatory, and neuroprotective effects. Eriodictyol could be its active compound. 

Retracted: No

PubPeer comments:
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 funding:  This work was supported by grants from NSFC (No.81072967), the fund from National Key Clinical Specialist Vocational School of TCM encephalopathy, and NIH (R01NS078026, R01AT007317). ,