Free radical research
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Free radical research · Jul 2014
Suppression of NADPH oxidase- and mitochondrion-derived superoxide by Notoginsenoside R1 protects against cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury through estrogen receptor-dependent activation of Akt/Nrf2 pathways.
Notoginsenoside R1 (NGR1) is a novel phytoestrogen that is isolated from Panax notoginseng. We have recently found that NGR1 showed neuroprotection in vitro against oxidative stress through estrogen receptor (ER)-dependent activation of Akt/Nrf2 pathways. However, whether NGR1 has neuroprotective effect against cerebral ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury in vivo is unknown. ⋯ Pretreatment with ICI-182780, LY294002, or Snpp abolished NGR1-mediated neuroprotection against oxidative stress and apoptosis in vitro. In conclusion, NGR1 showed neuroprotection against cerebral I/R injury in vivo and in vitro. The mechanism of NGR1 neuroprotection involves inhibition of NADPH oxidase activity and mitochondrial dysfunction via ER-dependent activation of Akt/Nrf2 pathways.