Neuroprotective and anti-dementia role of Tongqiao Huoxue decoction in rats with vascular dementia

Objective: Tongqiaohuoxue decoction (TQHXD) as a traditional Chinese medicine has the role of promoting blood circulation, and vascular dementia (VD) is a cognitive dysfunction syndrome caused by cerebral embolism. This study investigated the protective effects of TQHXD on memory impairment and brain damage in rat. Methods: Morphological changes in ischemic brains were performed for hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining. The number of apoptotic neurons was detected by TUNEL staining. Administration with TQHXD for 4 weeks significantly improved the behavioral performance of rats with vascular dementia, as showed in the Morris water maze test. Superoxide dismutase (SOD), Glutathione peroxidase (GSH-PX), malondialdehyde (MDA) were determined by spectrophotometry using commercial kits. Results: TQHXD enhanced activities of SOD and GSH-PX but it decreased their MDA content. Conclusion: These results demonstrated TQHXD possesses neuroprotective and antidementia properties and suggested that TQHXD might be developed as an effective drug for the prevention of VD.