Cerebroprotective Effects of Yizhitongmai Granule and Decomposed Recipes on Vascular Dementia Rats Via the Nod-like Receptor Protein 3 Inflammasome Pathway

We aimed to evaluate the cerebroprotective effects of Yizhitongmai Granule and its decomposed recipes on vascular dementia (VD) rats via the Nod-like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome pathway. Sixty rats were randomly divided into Sham, VD Model, Yizhitongmai Recipe, Bushen Recipe, Tongluo Recipe and positive control groups (n=10). From 12 d after operation, Yizhitongmai Recipe, Bushen Recipe and Tongluo Recipe groups were gavaged with corresponding drug liquid. The drugs were administered at 2 mL once a day for 28 consecutive days. The reactive oxygen species (ROS), superoxide dismutase (SOD), total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) in hippocampal tissues were detected using biochemical methods. Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), interleukin-18 (IL-18) and IL-1 beta were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Western blotting was performed to detect the expression levels of neuronal growth-associated protein-43 (GAP43), synaptophysin (SYN), aquaporin 4 (AQP4), NLRP3 and Caspase-1. Compared with the Model group, the number of apoptotic cells, levels of ROS, LDH, TNF-alpha, IL-18, IL-1 beta, NLRP3 and Caspase-1 decreased, and the levels of SOD, T-AOC, GAP43, SYN and AQP4 increased in the Yizhitongmai Recipe, Bushen Recipe and Tongluo Recipe groups (P<0.05). However, the Bushen Recipe and Tongluo Recipe groups had similar indices (P>0.05). Compared with the Bushen Recipe and Tongluo Recipe groups, the Yizhitongmai Recipe group had fewer apoptotic cells, decreased levels of ROS, LDH, TNF-alpha, IL-18, IL-1 beta, NLRP3 and Caspase-1, and increased levels of SOD, T-AOC, GAP43, SYN and AQP4 (P<0.05). Yizhitongmai Granule and its decomposed recipes can protect hippocampal neurons, relieve oxidative stress and inflammatory response caused by hypoperfusion brain injury.