Protective Effect of the Viola Spathulata Extract on NCX3 Gene Expression in an Animal Model of Cerebral Ischemia

Abstract_ Introduction: Viola plant has been used traditionally for the treatment of neurological disorders. We aimed at determining whether pretreatment with Viola spathulata extract can alleviate the severity of ischemic-reperfusion damages and it can exert its protective effects through the regulation of a sodium/calcium exchanger (NCX3) gene expression in a rat brain. Methods: Male Wistar rats were divided into two main groups, including one main group for evaluating neurologic deficit score (NDS) and infarct volume (IV) and the other group for the evaluation of NCX3 gene expression in the brain tissue, which were subdivided to the intact, control (vehicle), sham, V5, and V10 subgroups. The vehicle (control) sub-group received DMSO and V5 and V10 sub-group received V.spathulata extract at the doses of 5 and 10 mg/kg, respectively for 7 days (i.p.). After pretreatment, a 60-min middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) was carried out. Results: in the V5 and V10 groups, NDS and IV significantly decreased. MCAO up-regulated NCX3 gene expression in the core, penumbra, and subcortex regions compared with the intact subgroup. The V5 subgroup significantly down-regulated the NCX3 gene expression level in the core compared with the control subgroup. The V10 subgroup showed down-regulation of the NCX3 gene expression level in core, penumbra, and subcortex compared with the control subgroup. Conclusion: V.spathulata extract seems to have a neuroprotective role against MCAO- induced ischemic brain damage, possibly through preventing the alteration of NCX3 gene expression level.