Hypericin alleviates cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury by modulating endoplasmic reticulum stress.

ABSTRACT:

Introduction

Cerebral ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury remains a leading cause of neurological disability and is characterized by oxidative stress, calcium overload, inflammation, and endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress following reperfusion. Hypericin, a bioactive naphthodianthrone derived from Hypericum perforatum, exhibits antioxidant and anti-apoptotic properties. This study investigated the neuroprotective effects and underlying mechanisms of hypericin in experimental cerebral I/R injury.

Methods

Male Sprague-Dawley rats were subjected to middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) and treated intraperitoneally with hypericin (5, 10, or 20 mg/kg) 30 minutes before reperfusion or nimodipine (10 mg/kg) as a positive control. Neurological severity scores (mNSS), grip strength,

SUBMITTER: Li T 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12819193 | biostudies-literature | 2025

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature