Comparative Protective Effects of Viola Spathulata, Urtica Dioica, and Lamium Album on Endoplasmic Reticulum (ER) Stress in Rat Stroke Model

Pathological conditions, including ischemic stroke, are associated with severe Endoplasmic Reticulum (ER) stress that induces apoptosis and cell death. Herbal medicines are natural treatments with few side effects in such situations.

In the present study, we examined the probable neuroprotective effects of Viola spathulata, Lamium album, and Urtica dioica on splicing of ER stress mRNA gene marker (X-box Binding Protein-1 [XBP-1]) and Unfolded Protein Response (UPR) activation in the brain of the rat stroke model.

Sixty male Wistar albino rats (weight: 220-250 g) were selected for this study and divided into two major groups. The first major group comprised the healthy animals that are subdivided into groups number 1 to 5. The second major group comprised the Middle Cerebral Artery Occlusion (MCAO) group subdivided into groups number 6-10. The reverse transcriptionpolymerase chain reaction was performed after pretreatment with different herbal extracts (5, 10 mg/kg), Viola spathulata, and 100 mg/ kg Urtica dioica and Lamium album). The results were analyzed by one-way analysis of variance in IBM SPSS v. 22.

MCAO-induced ischemia caused a marked increase in XBP-1 splicing in all rats of the MCAO group in comparison to the control groups (P<0.05), and pretreatment with 3 herbal extracts dramatically decreased target gene splicing in the MCAO studied groups (P<0.05).

All three herbal extracts of U. dioica, L. album, and V. spathulata had the promising potential to use as a neuroprotective agent by reducing ER stress.