Abstract
Citri Reticulatae Viride Pericarpium extract(CRVP) have been used in oriental medicine for many centuries as a therapeutic agent for smoothing the liver and regulating the circulation of qi, and promoting digestion and removing stagnated food. The effects of CRVP on the inhibition of brain damage in cerebral ischemia is not known. Therefore, this Study was designed to investigate the cerebral protective effects of CRVP on the transient cerebral ischemia using modern techniques, and further to provide the possibility of scientification of oriental medicine. The size of cerebral infarct size was measured by morphometry, and brain edema was measured by morphometry and brain water content determination. The results were a$ follows ; 1. Water fraction of CRVP was reduced infect area of rats brain slices which were subjected to a transient cerebral ischemia in a dose-dependent manner. 2. Methylene chloride fraction and hexane fraction of CRVP was significantly reduced infarct area of rats brain slices which were subjected to a transient cerebral ischemia in a dose-dependent manner. 3. Methylene chloride fraction and hexane fraction of CRVP was significantly reduced infarct volume of rats brain which was subjected to a transient cerebral ischemia in a dose-dependent manner. 4. Methylene Chloride fraction and hexane fraction of CRVP was significantly decreased brain edema induced by a transient cerebral ischemia in a dose-dependent manner. 5. Methylene chloride fraction and hexane fraction of CRVP was significantly decreased brain water content of rats which were subjected to a transient cerebral ischemia. It is suggested that CRVP has an anti-ischemic effect through the inhibition of brain damage in a transient cerebral ischemia, and that in future further development of main effective constituent in CRVP can provide a novel therapeutic strategy for cerebral ischemia.
