Y-2 reduces oxidative stress and inflammation and improves neurological function of collagenase-induced intracerebral hemorrhage rats

Intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) is a devastating disease, and there is currently no specific pharmacological treatment that can improve clinical outcomes. Y-2 sublingual tablets, each containing 30 mg edaravone and 6 mg (+)-borneol, is undergoing a phase III clinical trial for treatment of ischemic stroke in China. The purpose of the present study is to investigate the efficacy and potential mechanism of Y-2 in a rat model of collagenase IV injection induced ICH. Sublingual administration of Y-2 at the dose of 1, 3 and 6 mg/kg improved ICH-induced sensorimotor dysfunction, alleviated cell death and histopathological change, restored the hippocampal long-term potentiation (LTP), reduced brain edema and maintained blood-brain barrier (BBB) integrality in ICH rats. Further study demonstrated that Y-2 could reduce inflammatory response and oxidative stress by decreasing the levels of myeloperoxidase (MPO), ionized calcium-binding adaptor protein-1 (Iba-1), inflammatory cytokines and oxidative products, inhibit transcription factor nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) activation, cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and matrix metallopeptidase 9 (MMP-9) expression in brain tissue around in the core regions of hematoma. Importantly, the protective efficacy of Y-2 from ICH-induced injury was superior to edaravone. In conclusion, Y-2 sublingual tablets might be a promising therapeutic agent for the treatment of ICH.