Evaluation of Neuroprotective Effect of Hibiscus sabdariffa Linn. Aqueous Extract Against Ischaemic-Reperfusion Insult by Bilateral Common Carotid Artery Occlusion in Adult Male Rats.

Ischaemic brain injury continues to be devastating, causing social, medical and relationship disruption. Oxidativedamage has been reported to be one of the mechanisms for brain damage following ischaemic stroke. The antioxidant activityof Hibiscus sabdariffa L. was investigated for a possible protective effect against ischaemia-induced brain damage in rats.Adult male Wistar rats (n=35) were divided into five groups of 7 rats per group. Group 1 served as control was given tapwater; Group 2: 500 mg/kg daily of Hibiscus sabdariffa L. extract (HSE); Group 3: bilateral common carotid artery occlusion(BCCAO) for 30 minutes followed by reperfusion for 24 hours; Group 4: 500 mg/kg (HSE) before BCCAO; Group 5: 500mg/kg vitamin E before BCCAO. All administrations were oral and lasted 3 weeks. Behavioural studies namely: transitions,rearings, groomings and forelimb grip strength were carried out. Rats were thereafter euthanized and biochemical[malondialdehyde (MDA), reduced glutathione (GSH), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT)], histological andmorphological investigations were carried out on rat whole brain. Animals pretreated with HSE showed a significant (p<0.05)reduction in their body weight compared to the control group. BCCAO produced a significant (p<0.05) reduction in GSH,SOD and CAT while elevating MDA non-significantly. The HSE and Vitamin E pretreatment ameliorated these biochemicalalterations and also attenuated reactive changes in cortical neurons. BCCAO treatment increased grooming and forelimbstrength which both HSE and vitamin E pretreatment reversed. The results suggest that H. sabdariffa L and vitamin E were protective in acute cerebral ischaemia induced by bilateral common carotid artery occlusion in adult male rats.