In this study, the neuroprotective effect of an extract of Antrodia camphorata (A. camphorata), a fungus commonly used in Chinese\nfolk medicine for treatment of viral hepatitis and cancer, alone or in combination with aspirin was investigated in a rat embolic\nstroke model. An ischemic stroke was induced in rats by a selective occlusion of the middle cerebral artery (MCA) with whole\nblood clots and then orally treated with A. camphorata (0.25 and 0.75 g/kg/day) alone and combined with aspirin (5mg/kg/day).\nSixty days later, the brains were removed, sectioned, and stained with triphenyltetrazolium chloride and analysed by a commercial\nimage processing software program. Brain infarct volume, neurobehavioral score, cerebral blood perfusion, and subarachnoid\nand intracerebral hemorrhage incidence were perceived. In addition, potential bleeding side effect of the combinative therapy\nwas assessed by measuring hemoglobin (Hb) content during intracerebral hemorrhage and gastric bleeding, prothrombin time\n(PT), and occlusion time (OT) after oral administration. Posttreatment with high dose A. camphorata significantly reduced infarct\nvolume and improved neurobehavioral score (P < 0.05). Since A. camphorata alone or with aspirin did not alter the Hb level, this\ntreatment is safe and does not cause hemorrhagic incident. Remarkably, the combination of A. camphorata and aspirin did not show\na significant effect on the bleeding time, PT and OT increase suggesting that A. camphorata may have the neuroprotective effect\nwithout the prolongation of bleeding time or coagulation time. From these observations, we suggest that combinative therapy of A.\ncamphorata and aspirin might offer enhanced neuroprotective efficacies without increasing side effects.
Loading....