Beta-glucan attenuates cerebral ischemia/reperfusion-induced neuronal injury in a C57BL/J6 mouse model

Beta-glucans (βg), that have many useful effects on human health, are natural polysaccharides. Our aim in this study was to determine useful effect of βg against oxidative and neuronal damage caused by global cerebral ischemia/reperfusion (IR) in stroke imitated mice via surgical operation. A total of 40 mice divided into four equal groups randomly. The group 1 (sham operated) was kept as control. Bilateral carotid arteries of subjects in group 2 (I/R) and group 4 (I/ R + βg) were clipped for 15 min, and the mice in group 4 (I/R + βg) were treated with βg (50 mg/kg/day), while the mice in group 2 (I/R) were treated with only vehicle for 10 days. The mice of group 3 (βg) were treated with βg for 10 days without carotid occlusion. Global cerebral I/R significantly increased oxidative stress and decreased members of anti-oxidant defense system. In addition, I/R caused histopathological damage in the brain tissue. However, βg treatment ameliorated both oxidative and histopathological effects of I/R. Our present study showed that βg treatment significantly ameliorated oxidative and histological damage in the brain tissue caused by cerebral I/R. Therefore, βg treatment can be used as supportive care for ischemic stroke patients.