Extract of Diospyros kaki Stem Reduces Neuronal Damage in the Gerbil Hippocampus Induced by Transient Cerebral Ischemia

초록

Diospyros kaki (Persimmon) fruits and leaves have been used as a traditional medicine and include anumber of therapeutic components. The present study investigated neuroprotective effect of the extract ofDiospyros kaki stem (EDKS) against ischemic damage in the gerbil hippocampal CA1 region after 5 min oftransient cerebral ischemia. To elucidate the neuroprotective effect of EDKS on ischemic damage, 50 mg/kg EDKS was administered orally to gerbils for 7 days before the ischemic surgery, and we used cresylviolet and Fluoro-Jade C (F-J C) staining. In the EDKS-treated group, many survived pyramidal neurons inthe CA1 region was stained with cresyl violet and a few degenerative pyramidal neurons was stained withF-J C. The survival rate of the CA1 pyramidal neurons was about 62% compared to that in the vehicletreatedgroup. In the EDKS-treated group, isolectin B4 (a marker for activated microglia) immunoreactivitywas significantly lower than that in the vehicle-treated group. These results suggest that repeatedsupplement of EKDS can protect neurons from ischemic damage.

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