Meherzia Mokni
University of Tunis El Mana, Tunisia
Title: Grape seed and skin extract protects brain rat against ischemia/reperfusion injury
Biography
Biography: Meherzia Mokni
Abstract
Stroke is one of the most leading death causes in the 21st century. However, until now, any effective treatment has been found. Grape seed extract is a natural product which exerts many benefic effects on cardiovascular diseases. The determination of Grape seed extract (GSE) compositions reveals a variety of molecules from different classes. In this study we aimed to determine the effect of GSE-pretreatment on ischemic stroke in rat. Our results showed a massive sodium and calcium influx into the brain [respectively 46.5 vs. 84.5 mg/mg protein (for Na) and 34.4 vs. 59.9 mg/mg protein (for Ca)], after Ischemia reperfusion. These facts have been associated with potassium depletion. Ischemia induced also the increase of brain water contain (71% vs. 82%) and calpains activity (1575 vs. 4003 cps). Simultaneously, after ischemia, carbohydrate catabolic processes have been deregulated as it was justified by increased brain lactate (0.55 vs. 0.78mM/mg protein) and plasmatic glucose (0.96 vs. 2.42 g/l) and decreased glucose-6 phosphatase activity (1.11 vs. 0.82 10-3U/mg protein) and complex-I activity (0.022 vs. 0.014nmoles/min/mg protein). Interestingly, GSE pretreatment prevented all these disturbances leading to the maintenance of brain homeostasis and consequently preventing major ischemia/reperfusion induced-problems.