Asiatic acid attenuates infarct volume, mitochondrial dysfunction, and matrix metalloproteinase-9 induction after focal cerebral ischemia

Stroke. 2012 Jun;43(6):1632-8. doi: 10.1161/STROKEAHA.111.639427. Epub 2012 Apr 17.

Abstract

Background and purpose: Asiatic acid (AA) has been shown to attenuate cerebral infarction in a mouse model of focal ischemia and shows promise as a neuroprotective stroke therapy. To facilitate translation of these findings to clinical studies, we determined pharmacokinetics, a dose-response relationship, the therapeutic time window, and efficacy using multiple stroke models. We also explored potential mechanisms of action.

Methods: Escalating doses of intravenous AA were administered and serum concentrations were measured at multiple time points for the pharmacokinetic studies. Subsequently, a dose-response relationship was determined followed by administration at different intervals after the onset of ischemia to establish a therapeutic time window for neuroprotection. Outcome measurements included both histological and behavioral. Mitochondrial function and matrix metalloproteinase activity in controls and treated rats were also determined.

Results: The pharmacokinetic studies showed that AA (75 mg/kg) has a half-life of 2.0 hours. AA significantly decreased infarct volume and improved neurological outcome even when administration was at time points up to 12 hours after the onset of ischemia. Infarct volume was also significantly decreased in female rats and spontaneously hypertensive rats. AA attenuated mitochondrial dysfunction and reduced matrix metalloproteinase-9 induction.

Conclusions: Our study shows AA is effective against multiple models of focal ischemia, has a long therapeutic time window, and is also effective in females and hypertensive animals. AA may mediate neuroprotection by protecting mitochondria and inhibiting matrix metalloproteinase-9 induction and activation. Taken together these data suggest that AA is an excellent candidate for development as a stroke therapy.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Brain Infarction* / drug therapy
  • Brain Infarction* / metabolism
  • Brain Infarction* / pathology
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Enzyme Activation / drug effects
  • Enzyme Induction / drug effects
  • Female
  • Male
  • Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 / biosynthesis*
  • Mice
  • Mitochondria / metabolism*
  • Mitochondria / pathology
  • Neuroprotective Agents* / pharmacokinetics
  • Neuroprotective Agents* / pharmacology
  • Pentacyclic Triterpenes* / pharmacokinetics
  • Pentacyclic Triterpenes* / pharmacology
  • Rats
  • Rats, Sprague-Dawley
  • Stroke / drug therapy
  • Stroke / metabolism
  • Stroke / pathology

Substances

  • Neuroprotective Agents
  • Pentacyclic Triterpenes
  • asiatic acid
  • Matrix Metalloproteinase 9
  • Mmp9 protein, mouse
  • Mmp9 protein, rat