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. 2017 Mar 7;17(1):140.
doi: 10.1186/s12906-017-1655-x.

Rhein exhibits antioxidative effects similar to Rhubarb in a rat model of traumatic brain injury

Xia Xu  1 , Huiying Lv  2 , Zian Xia  1 , Rong Fan  1 , Chunhu Zhang  1 , Yang Wang  3 , Dongsheng Wang  4
Affiliations

Rhein exhibits antioxidative effects similar to Rhubarb in a rat model of traumatic brain injury

Xia Xu et al. BMC Complement Altern Med. .

Abstract

Background: The brain is secondarily harmed by pathological, physiological, and biological reactions that are caused by traumatic brain injury (TBI). Rhein, a significant composition of Rhubarb, is a well-known traditional Chinese treatment method and has a strong oxidation-resisting characteristic, but Rhein's mechanism remains unclear.

Methods: This study aimed to identify Rhein in the brain tissues of TBI model of rats, and confirm whether Rhein induced an antioxidative effect similar to its parent medicine, Rhubarb. First, the ultra performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS) method was applied to identify Rhein in the brain tissue of the controlled cortical impact (CCI) rats after intra-gastric administration of Rhubarb. Further, for the purpose of calculating the oxidant stress of the CCI rats, the malondialdehyde (MDA), catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and glutathione disulfide (GSSG), as well as the proportion of glutathione (GSH)/GSSG were measured in the brain tissues.

Results: The results showed that Rhein was absorbed in the brain tissues of CCI rats. Rhubarb and rhein elevated the SOD, CAT activities, GSH level, and GSH/GSSG ratio, and diminished the MDA and GSSG levels.

Conclusion: The data demonstrated that Rhubarb and Rhein had the potential to be used as a neuroprotective drug for TBI, and that Rhein induced an antioxidative effect similar to its parent medicine, Rhubarb.

Keywords: Neuroprotective effect; Oxidative stress; Rhein; Rhubarb; Traumatic brain injury.

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Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
The chemical structure of Rhein (4, 5-dihydroxyanthraquinone-2-carboxylic acid). Molecular formula: C15H8O6. Molecular weight: 284.22 g/moL
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Identification of Rhein in the brain tissue of a CCI rat by Ultra-high Performance Liquid Chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS) analysis. Representative MRM chromatograms of Rhein in brain sample. a Brain sample detection at 1 h after intragastric administration of Rhubarb (12 g/kg); (b) Blank brain tissue spiked with reference Rhein
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Effects of Rhubarb (3 g/kg, 6 g/kg and 12 g/kg) and Rhein (12 mg/kg) on the SOD levels of rat brains at different time points. Values are expressed as the mean ± SD. # p < 0.01 compared to the sham at the same time point, *p < 0.05 compared to the vehicle at the same time point, △ p < 0.01 compared to the vehicle at the same time point
Fig. 4
Fig. 4
Effects of Rhubarb (3 g/kg, 6 g/kg and 12 g/kg) and Rhein (12 mg/kg) on the CAT levels of rat brains at different time points. Values are expressed as the mean ± SD. # p < 0.01 compared to the sham at the same time point, *p < 0.05 compared to the vehicle at the same time point, △ p < 0.01 compared to the vehicle at the same time point
Fig. 5
Fig. 5
Effects of Rhubarb (3 g/kg, 6 g/kg and 12 g/kg) and Rhein (12 mg/kg) on the MDA levels of rat brains at different time points. Values are expressed as the mean ± SD. # p < 0.01 compared to the sham at the same time point, *p < 0.05 compared to the vehicle at the same time point, △ p < 0.01 compared to the vehicle at the same time point
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