Myrtenol‐Loaded Fatty Acid Nanocarriers Protect Rat Brains Against Ischemia–Reperfusion Injury: Antioxidant and Anti‐Inflammatory Effects

This research investigated the preventive effects of myrtenol (MYR), fatty acid nanocarriers (FANC), and myrtenol-loaded FANC (MYR + FANC) on neurological disturbance, stroke volume, the levels of malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) in the brain with ischemia-reperfusion injuries induced by middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) in rats. Seventy two Wistar male rats were divided into six main groups. The groups were sham, ischemia-reperfusion group (MACO), MACO-MYR (50 mg/kg), MACO-FANC (50 and 100 mg/kg), and MACO-MYR + FANC (50 mg/kg). Stroke volume, neurological deficit scores, and the brain levels of MDA, SOD, and TNF-α were examined with TTC staining, observation, and ELISA, respectively. Pretreatment with MYR, FANC (100 mg/kg), and MYR + FANC reduced the neurological deficit score and cerebral infarction volume. MYR, FANC (100 mg/kg), and MYR + FANC pretreatment increased and decreased brain SOD and MDA levels compared to MACO group, respectively. The TNF-α level decreased in the MYR + FANC group compared to MCAO and MCAO-MYR groups in the brain. The use of FANC (100 mg/kg), MYR, and MYR + FANC has protective effects against oxidative stress and ischemia-reperfusion injury. FANC probably improve the bioavailability of MYR, as MYR+ FANC had more therapeutic effects on the reduction of ischemia-reperfusion injuries, inflammation, and oxidative stress.