EFFECT OF TC SAPONIN EXPRESSION SIGNATURE IN PARIETO TEMPORAL CORTEX ON STROKE RAT

Effect of Tinosporia cordifolia Saponin on IBA-1 Expression Signature in the Parieto-Temporal Cortex of Stroke-Induced Rats Tinosporia cordifolia (TC) saponin is one of the most popular African medicinal plants traditionally used in the management of stroke disorders. This study aimed to investigate the effect of TC saponin on the expression signature of Ionized Calcium Binding Adapter Molecule-1 (IBA-1) in the parieto-temporal cortex of stroke-induced rats. Wistar rats weighing between 144 g and 341 g were used for this research. The animals were divided into five groups. Groups II–V were induced with brain damage through the oral administration of amitriptyline hydrochloride (AMT). The experimental grouping was as follows: Group I (Normal Control – CTR): Non-stroke + distilled water Group II (AMT): Stroke (AMT) + distilled water Group III (AMT + TCLD): Stroke + TC (250 mg/kg body weight) Group IV (AMT + TCMD): Stroke + TC (300 mg/kg body weight) Group V (AMT + TCHD): Stroke + TC (400 mg/kg body weight) Treatment lasted for a period of two weeks. Histological observations of the cerebral cortex revealed that the control group, which received normal saline (NS), showed weak immunostaining of astroglial cells (white arrow). The AMT-treated rats (4.2 mg/kg) showed strong immunostaining of astroglial cells with thick, dense processes and darkly stained cell bodies (red arrow), indicating pronounced astrocytic activation. Rats treated with TC alkaloid at 250 mg/kg demonstrated thin immunostaining of astroglial cells (white arrow). Those treated with 300 mg/kg showed very weak immunostaining, while rats treated with 400 mg/kg showed very mild immunostaining of astroglial cells. In conclusion, treatment with Tinosporia cordifolia alkaloid demonstrated a significant impact in modulating cortical astrocytic activation within the dentate gyrus (DG) following AMT-induced ischemic stroke.