author(s)
Moattar Raza Rizvi, Mohammad Al-Mansour, Mohammad Al-Rukban, Nasser Jarallah, Raidah Saleem Al-Baradie, Khalid Tohami, Waqas Sami, Kashif Hanif, Raid Al-Baradie

abstract
Stroke ranks as the third largest cause of death worldwide after ischemic heart disease and cancer. Despite recent advances in antithrombotic treatment, post-stroke disability has significant economic and social burden. Thus, the problem of finding a safe and effective acute neuroprotective treatment for stroke remains urgent. The present study evaluates neuroprotective and antioxidant action of two natural herbs - Matricaria recutita and Artemisia absinthium following middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAo) in rats. Thirty-six male rats were randomly selected into 6 groups (n=6 per group) as follows- Group 1: Sham-operated rat without MCAo, Group 2: Ischemic control following MCAo, Group 3: M. recutita (200 mg/kg) + MCAo, Group 4: M. recutita (400 mg/kg) + MCAo, Group 5: A. Absinthium (200 mg/kg) + MCAo, Group 6: A. Absinthium (400 mg/kg) + MCAo. The effect of extract on the volume of infarct, hemisphere swelling, neurobehavioral score, grip strength and oxidative stress [levels of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), glutathione-S-transferase (GST) and reduced glutathione (GSH)] were estimated following middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAo). Matricaria recutita pretreatment at dose of 400 mg/kg showed significant neuroprotective effect on infarct area, infarct volume, hemispheric swelling, neurobehavioral score and grip strength test following cerebral ischemia in rats. Artemisia absinthium could not produce any significant neuroprotection except for significant reduction in hemisphere swelling at a dose of 400 mg/kg. Matricaria recutita also showed significant decrease in lipid peroxidation (LPO) and increase in the superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities, catalase (CAT), reduced glutathione (GSH), total thiol and protein levels in group 3 and 4 (Matricaria recutita treated MCAo animals) as compared with sham operated and MCAo group (P<0.001). There was no remarkable change in the oxidative stress parameters in group 5 and group 6 (MCAo rats pretreated with Artemisia absinthium). The present study for the first time shows potent neuroprotective activity of the methanol extract of Matricaria recutita in rats following cerebral ischemia through middle cerebral artery occlusion.