Dextran- Curcumin Downregulates Tumor Necrosis Factor-α and Interleukin-6 Expression and Protects Rat Brains Against Global Ischemia

Stroke is neurodegenerative disease with pathophysiological cascade, such as oxidative stress and inflammatory event. The inflammatory response following ischemic stroke with pathological features such as necrotic cells and increased reactive oxygen species, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin- 1ß (IL-1ß) and interleukin-6 (IL-6), by a variety of activated cell types and expand an infarct initiatedby ischemic insult. Curcumin, a natural phenolic compound, has been pharmacological effects such as anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and anti-apoptosis. The loss of water-solubility and its low absorption inside the body include problems with the use of curcumin.So recently by various novel drug delivery methods improved its bioavailability and absorption. Dextran is a highly biocompatible and biodegradable neutral bacterial exopolysaccharide with simple repeating glucose subunits with highly suitable as nanomedicine,nanodrug. Most importantly, it is extremely water soluble and shows no post drug delivery cellular toxicity. The purpose of this study was to investigate the anti-inflammatory effects of Dextran-curcumin conjugate in animal model of ischemia. Materials and Methods: pre-treatment group, was treated oral administration with curcumin or dextran- curcumin for 30 days and vehicle group received distilated water. Forinduction of ischemic model, rats were anaesthetized and carotid arteries were selected and clamped for 5 min (time of ischemia), There after the vascular clamps were removed for the next 10 min (time of reperfusion), and both carotid arteries were clamped again for 5 min.In order to investigate the anti-inflammatory effects of Dextran- curcumin conjugate, expression of IL-6 and TNF-α gene was performed using RT-PCR method. Results: Our study indicated that TNFα and IL-6 levels increace in ischemic groupe and dextran curcumin conjugate Improve effects after ischemic stroke (p˂ 0.01). Conclusion: According to our research, Dextrancurcuminconjugate has protective effects on ischemiastroke.