Neuroprotective functions of calycosin against intracerebral hemorrhage-induced oxidative stress and neuroinflammation.

To investigate whether calycosin affects the brain damages induced by intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH). ICH mouse model was established by injection of collagenase type VII. 50 mg/kg calycosin showed significant inhibitory effects on ICH-induced brain impairment evaluated by modified neurologic severity scores and water content. In addition, the lesion volumes, blood accumulation and hemispheric enlargement were all dramatically reduced by calycosin treatment compared with those of vehicles. It was observed that calycosin repressed oxidative stress by enhancing Nrf2 anti-oxidative pathway and suppressed inflammation by blocking NACHT, NALP3 inflammasome and NF-κB pathway activation. Calycosin could protect the brain against the damages induced by ICH via inhibiting oxidative damages and inflammation.