• Alpha-pinene improves learning and memory deficits after ischemia/reperfusion by inhibition of necrotic cells death
  • Sohaila Erfani,1 Seyedeh Mahdieh Khoshnazar,2,*
    1. Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Ilam University, Ilam, Iran
    2. Gastroenterology and Hepatology Research Center, Institute of Basic and Clinical Physiology Sciences, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran


  • Introduction: The brain, including the hippocampus, is the most vulnerable organ in the body to ischemic reperfusion injury. The brain, including the hippocampus, particularly those in the CA1 region, will easily die-termed delayed neuronal death-when they are deprived from the blood supply. which include memory deficits, since hippocampus is well-known to play a pivotal role in the spatial memory regulation. α-Pinene is an organic compound of many aromatic plants and is known as a potent agent to possess antimicrobial, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory properties. The present investigation is about finding the neuroprotective effects of α-Pinene by which improves learning and memory deficits after brain ischemia injury.
  • Methods: Twenty-eight male Wistar rats were randomly selected and allocated in the form of four groups (sham, α-Pinene, ischemia, ischemia+ α-Pinene). Ischemia was created by obstruction couple common carotid arteries in 20-min period. Saline as a vehicle and α-Pinene (100 mg/kg, intraperitoneally) were injected at the time of reperfusion. Spatial memory performances were evaluated by the Morris water maze. Necrotic cell death was detected by Nissl staining.
  • Results: The results showed that necrotic cell death in the CA1 area of hippocampus that increased by cerebral ischemia, significantly reduced with treatment of α-Pinene
  • Conclusion: This study for the first time found that α-Pinene treatment improved spatial memory impairments that induced by brain ischemia through preventing neuronal cell death. α-Pinene has significant neuroprotective effects and can be introduced as a therapeutic agent against cerebral ischemia-induced injuries.
  • Keywords: Alpha-pinene, Ischemic Stroke, spatial memory, Necrotic cell death