Effects of Mulberry Fruit Powder in Animal Model of Stroke

Abstract

Stroke is the leading cause of death and the important cause of disability worldwide. Presently, the effectiveness of therapeutic strategy is still very limited. Based on the role neuroprotective effect of substance possessing antioxidant effect previously reported, we hypothesized mulberry fruit a substance possessing anti-oxidant activity, might be able to protect against cognitive impairment induced by stroke or cerebral ischemia. Male Wistar rats were orally given mulberry fruit powder at doses of 2,10 and 50 mg kg^-1 BW at a periods of 7 days before and 21 days after induced Middle Cerebral Artery Occlusion (MCAO). The animals were determined spatial memory using Morris water maze test, motor performance was determined using neurological score and the sensory performance was also determined using hot plate test every 7 days before and after the operation until the end of experiment. In addition, the density of survival neurons was determined using cresyl violet stain. The results showed that the significant improvement of mulberry fruits in healthy condition after single dose and 7 days of MCAO at dose 2 and 10 mg kg^-1 BW. In cognitive deficit condition, mulberry fruits can exert neuroprotective at dose 10 and 50 mg kg^-1 BW after 21 days MCAO. Moreover, the significant change of sensory recovery was observed at 50 mg kg^-1 BW after MCAO 7 days. The mulberry fruits significantly improved the density of survival neurons in CA2 and CA3 of hippocampus after 21 days of MCAO. All results in this study suggested that mulberry fruit had high potential to be developed as novel preventive and therapeutic strategy against stroke condition. However, precise underlying mechanism is still required further investigation.