Fermented Chinese formula attenuates ischemic stroke by inhibiting inflammation and apoptosis.

The fermented Chinese formula is composed of (), (), (), (), (), (), (), (), (), (), (), (), () and (), whose aqueous extract was fermented with , and . is a formula used to treat brain diseases including ischemic stroke, migraine, and vascular dementia. attenuated HO-induced oxidative stress in rat microvascular endothelial cells. However, the potential mechanism involved in these effects is poorly understood. Rats were intragastrically treated with 5.7 or 17.2 mL/kg for 7 days before middle cerebral artery occlusion was induced. The results indicated had a cerebral protective effect by reducing infarct volume and increasing neurological scores. also decreased tumor necrosis factor-α and interleukin-1β levels in the hippocampus on the ischemic side. In addition, upregulated the expression of SIRT1 and Bcl-2 and downregulated the expression of acetylated-protein 53 and Bax. Injection of 5 mg/kg silent information regulator 1 (SIRT1) inhibitor EX527 into the subarachnoid space once every 2 days, four times, reversed the above changes. These results demonstrate that might benefit cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury by reducing inflammation and apoptosis through activation of the SIRT1 signaling pathway.