The Role of Onion Extracts in the Prevention of Stroke

Stroke is the second leading cause of death in the world. Ischemic stroke is characterized by rapid onset of neurological injury due to interruption of blood flow to the brain. Free radicals have been implicated in cerebral ischemia and reperfusion- induced neuronal injury. Hence anti-oxidants have shown neuroprotective effect.The present study investigates the effect of methanolic extracts of a natural anti-oxidant plant - Allium cepa on ischemia and reperfusion induced cerebral injury. Global cerebral ischemia was induced by bilateral carotid artery occlusion for 10 min followed by reperfusion for 24 hr. Cerebral infarct size was estimated using triphenyltetrazolium chloride staining. TBARS assay was employed to measure oxidative stress. Elevated plus maze was employed to evaluate short-term memory. Motor incoordination was evaluated using inclined-beam walking test.Pretreatment with onion extracts reduced cerebral infarct size, attenuated impairment in short term memory and motor coordination along with a decrease in mitochondrial TBARS. Hence, antioxidant plant extracts that attenuate cerebral injury may play an important role in neuroprotection.