Protective Effects of Shallot Onion Against Stroke due to Middle Cerebral Artery Occlusion in Male Wistar Rats

Oxidative stress is strongly involved in functional and neurological dysfunction induced by ischemia-reperfusion (IR). Therefore, approaches for using antioxidants to reverse IR-induced damage are being reviewed. Shallot is a plant with well-proven antioxidant properties; but its neuroprotective potential against cerebral ischemia has not been studied. Therefore, the present study was designed to evaluate the influence of shallot onion powder against IR-induced oxidative stress.

In this experimental study, 4 groups of 7 male Wistar rats were used, which included: sham, stroke, and stroke treated with shallot onion powder and group treated with shallot onion powder. After 8 weeks of oral treatment, rats were exposed to middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) for one hour. After 22 hours of reperfusion, brain activity levels of catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPX), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and malondialdehyde (MDA) were assessed.

Pretreatment with shallot onion powder led to a substantial increase in the levels of CAT (P<0/001), GPX (P<0/05), SOD (P<0/01); and there was a significant reduction in MDA level (P<0/01) in shallot onion powder + MCAO groups compared to MCAO groups.

Oral consumption of shallots significantly decreases focal ischemic brain damage/reperfusion. The defense mechanism against cerebral ischemia is linked with increased activity of antioxidants associated with lesion pathogenesis