Effect of dihydroferulic acid obtained from fermented rice bran extract on neuroprotection and behavioral recovery in an ischemic rat model

• Main Authors: Sang Hyun LEE, Dana YEO, Jeong Hwa HONG
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Sociedade Brasileira de Ciência e Tecnologia de Alimentos
• Series: Food Science and Technology
• Subjects: fermented rice bran extract; dihydroferulic acid; anti-oxidant genes; ischemic brain injury; neuroprotective effect
• Online Access: http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0101-20612020005012206&lng=en&tlng=en
• ISSN: 0101-2061; 1678-457X

Abstract This study aimed to evaluate whether dihydroferulic acid (dFA) promoted the viability of H2O2-treated PC12 cells and functional recovery from ischemic injury. The animals were divided into four groups for the study: (1) the vehicle treated (saline, 1 mL/kg), (2) dFA 5 mg/kg treated, (3) dFA10 mg/kg treated, and (4) dFA 20 mg/kg treated groups. Neurological deficit was evaluated using the modified neurological severity score. Real-time polymerase chain reaction analyses were performed with the protein disulphide isomerase (PDI), nuclear factor-E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2), nerve growth factor (NGF) and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) genes. Immunohistochemical analysis was performed with the Iba-1 and MFG-E8 genes. dFA treatment improved the reduced viability of PC12 cells induced by H2O2 in a dose-dependent manner. Only 50 μM of dFA significantly enhanced the transcription levels of antioxidant genes and neurotrophic factors compared to the vehicle group. In vivo dFA administration exerted a neuroprotective effect by reducing the infarct volume and enhancing behavioral function following cerebral ischemia. dFA treatment protected neuronal cells from ischemic injury and increased the transcription levels of anti-oxidant genes (PDI and Nrf2) and neurotrophic factors (BDNF and NGF). dFA treatment decreased the expression of Iba-1 and MFG-E8 genes, which signal neural cell death.