Protective Effect of Luteolin on an Oxidative-Stress Model Induced by Microinjection of Sodium Nitroprusside in Mice

Accumulating lines of evidence showed that luteolin, a polyphenolic compound, has potent neuroprotective effects. The purpose of this study was to examine whether luteolin can protect against sodium nitroprusside (SNP)-induced oxidative damage in mouse brain. Intrastriatal co-injection of luteolin (3 - 30 nmol) with SNP (10 nmol) dose-dependently protected against brain damage and motor dysfunction. Oral administrations of luteolin (600 - 1200 mg/kg) dose-dependently protected against brain damage and motor dysfunction induced by striatal injection of SNP. Furthermore, luteolin (30 - 100 mu M) concentration dependently protected against Fe2+-induced lipid peroxidation in mouse brain homogenate. Luteolin (1 - 100 mu g/ml) showed potent DPPH radical scavenging ability, when compared with ascorbic acid and glutathione. Finally, a ferrozine assay showed that luteolin (30 - 100 mu g/ml) has Fe2+-chelating ability, but this was weaker than that of ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid. These results suggest that intrastriatal or oral administration of luteolin protected mice brain from SNP-induced oxidative damage by scavenging and chelating effects.