Effect of Rhizoma Corydalis on focal cerebral infarct in ischemia-reperfusion injured rats

AIM: To investigate the effect of Rhizoma Corydalis (RC) on focal cerebral infarct. METHODS: A total of 30 Sprague-Dawley ( SD) rats were studied. Focal cerebral infarct was established by occluding the bilateral common carotid arteries and the right middle cerebral artery for 90 min. After 24 h reperfusion, the neurological status was evaluated and then the rats were killed and the brain tissue was stained with 2, 3, 5-triphenyltetrazolium chloride. The neurological status and the changes in the area of cerebral infarct were used as an index to evaluate the effect of RC on cerebral infarct. In addition, the whole blood was examined 24 h after RC treatment in the other 24 SD rats. RESULTS: Pretreatment with RC 100 mg/kg can improve neurological status and also can reduce the area of cerebral infarct in ischemia-reperfusion injured rats. The counts of erythrocyte and the amount of hematocrit increased in whole blood of RC-treated rats. CONCLUSION: RC can improve neurological status and reduce the area of cerebral infarct in ischemia-reperfusion injured rats.