OBJECTIVE: To investigate the protective effect of edaravone and danshensu conjugate (IM-009) on focal cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury in rats and its underlying mechanisms.
 METHODS: Rats were randomly assigned into 6 groups, including a sham group, a model group, an edaravone-treated group, a danshensu-treated group, a low dose of IM-009-treated group and a high dose of IM-009-treated group. The focal cerebral ischemia-reperfusion model was established by intraluminal filament. After the drug treatment, the infarct volume and extent of brain edema were measured. The levels of MDA and SOD were determined by the corresponding assay kit. The scavenging effect of IM-009 on hydroxyl radical and superoxide anion was also measured in a cell free system.
 RESULTS: 1) In comparison with the model group, the infarct volume and water content in rat brain after IM-009 treatment were significantly reduced. The protective effect of IM-009 at higher dose was much stronger than that of edaravone or danshensu (all P<0.05). 2) IM-009 significantly reduced the levels of MDA and increased the activity of SOD (all P<0.05). 3) IM-009 demonstrated strong activities in scavenging .OH and .O(2)(-) (all P<0.05).
 CONCLUSION IM-009 is able to protect rats from ischemia-reperfusion injury. The protective effect of IM-009 could be due to its radical-scavenging action.
Animals ; Antipyrine ; analogs & derivatives ; pharmacology ; Brain Edema ; Brain Ischemia ; drug therapy ; Cerebral Infarction ; drug therapy ; Edaravone ; Lactates ; pharmacology ; Malondialdehyde ; metabolism ; Rats ; Reperfusion Injury ; drug therapy ; Superoxide Dismutase ; metabolism