Caffeic acid ameliorates early and delayed brain injuries after focal cerebral ischemia in rats

Aim:To investigate the effects of caffeic acid on early and delayed injuries afterfocal cerebral ischemia in rats,and the possible relation to 5-lipoxygenaseinhibition.Methods:Transient focal cerebral ischernia was induced by middlecerebral artery occlusion in Sprague-Dawley rats.Caffeic acid(10 and 50 mg/kg)was ip injected for 5 d after ischemia.The brain injuries were observed,and thelevels of cysteinyl leukotrienes and leukotriene B4in the brain tissue weremeasured.Results:Caffeic acid(50 mg/kg)ameliorated neurological dysfunctionand neuron loss,and decreased infarct volume 24 h after ischemia;it attenuatedbrain atrophy,infarct volume,and particularly astrocyte proliferation 14 d afterischemia.In addition,it reduced the production of leukotrienes(5-lipoxygenasemetabolites)in the ischemic hemispheres 3 h and 7 d after ischemia.Conclusion:Caffeic acid has protective effect on both early and delayed injuries after focalcerebral ischemia in rats;and this effect may partly relate to 5-lipoxygenaseinhibition.