Abstract Cerebral ischemia may elevate oxidative stress due to a large amount of the generated reactive oxygen species.Silibinin is an active component of flavonoids possessing anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidative properties.Transition metal of iron (Fe), copper (Cu), and antioxidant of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) are required for the brain functions. This study was to elucidate whether protective effect of silibinin on the ischemic brain cortex is correlated with altering the level of transition metal, oxidative stress, and antioxidant activity. Rats were divided into four groups and the prevention subject was administered with silibinin (100 mg/kg) once daily for consecutive 10 days before cerebral ischemia. Cerebral ischemia was induced by ligation of right middle cerebral artery plus right common carotid artery for 1 hour. The right brain cortex tissue was homogenate and the supernatant was harvested for further biochemical analysis. The obtained results showed that level of malondialdehyde (MDA), Fe, and Cu was significantly decreased but the antioxidant activity of SOD and CAT was markedly increased in the prevention subject as compared to the ischemic group. In summary, our experimental findings demonstrate that neuroprotection of silibininon the ischemic brain cortex is correlated with altering the oxidative stress, transition metal level, and antioxidant activity.
Keywords ferrite nanoparticles, magnetic drug delivery system.