Neuroprotection of β-caryophyllene against cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury by inhibiting P38 MAPK/NLRP3 signaling pathway

The main objective of our research was to explore the neuroprotective effect and underlying mechanism of β-caryophyllene (BCP) pretreatment against cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury (CIRI). Neurological deficit score, infarct size, and sensorimotor function were assessed 24 h following reperfusion. Additionally, histopathological damage of neurons was evaluated using hematoxylin-eosin staining. The mRNA level of nod-like receptor family pyrin domain-containing 3 (NLRP3) was determined using quantitative real-time PCR. The expressions of p-p38, p38, NLRP3, procaspase-1, and ASC (apoptosis-associated speck-like protein containing a CARD) were measured using western blot analysis. The levels of interleukin-1β (IL-1β) and interleukin-18 (IL-18) were quantified utilizing the ELISA. Our findings indicated that BCP pretreatment significantly reduced the infarct volume, neurologic deficit score, sensorimotor deficits, histopathological damage, and expression of inflammatory factors. Besides, BCP pretreatment effectively suppressed the expression of p-p38, as well as the activation of NLRP3 inflammasome. The administration of anisomycin, an activator of p38 MAPK, was found to notably impede the favorable outcomes conferred by BCP pretreatment, which included reducing the infarct volume, improving the neurologic deficit score, mitigating the sensorimotor deficits, and attenuating the histopathological damage. Furthermore, anisomycin effectively reversed the suppressive impact of BCP on NLRP3 inflammasome activation. This research uncovered that pretreatment with BCP has the potential to alleviate CIRI by effectively suppressing the activation of NLRP3 inflammasome through the p38 MAPK signaling pathway.