Protective effects of Antrodia camphorata extract against hypoxic cell injury and ischemic stroke brain damage

Ischemic stroke is the most prevalent stroke condition in the world resulted in either a transient ischemic attack or long‐lasting neurological problems due to the interrupted or reduced blood flow to the brain. Antrodia camphorata is a well‐known medicinal mushroom native to Taiwan and is familiar due to its medicinal effects. The current study investigated the protective effect of A. camphorata ‐alcohol extracts (AC‐AE) against cobalt (II) chloride (CoCl 2 )‐induced oxidative stress in vitro and ischemia/reperfusion‐induced brain injury in vivo. The rats were pre‐treated with AC‐AE for 4 weeks. Our results showed that AC‐AE reduced cell damage and decreased reactive oxygen species (ROS) production in C6 and PC12 cells under CoCl 2 ‐induced hypoxic condition. AC‐AE doses (385, 770, 1,540 mg/kg/day, 4 weeks) increased nuclear factor erythroid 2–related factor 2 (Nrf2) and heme oxygenase‐1 (HO‐1) mRNA expressions and decreased inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase‐2 (COX‐2) mRNA expressions in Sprague Dawley rat. Besides, it decreased stroke infarct size and increased the level of antioxidants in both brain and serum. Furthermore, it reduced the formation of malondialdehyde (MDA) after ischemia/reperfusion (I/R). Our results suggested that AC‐AE exerted an effective reduction of ischemia stroke by regulating ROS production.