Cynaroside: a potential therapeutic agent targeting arachidonate 15-lipoxygenase to mitigate cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury.

INTRODUCTION: Due to the anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties of cynaroside (Cyn), it may be useful in the treatment of cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury (I/R). This study aims to evaluate the effect of Cyn on cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury. METHODS: Transient middle cerebral artery occlusion model (tMCAO) and oxygen and glucose deprivation/reperfusion (OGD/R) microglia models were used to evaluate the effect of Cyn. The direct interaction between Cyn and Alox15 was investigated through bioinformatics, molecular docking and biolayer interferometry. RESULTS: tMCAO mice treated with Cyn show improved neurological deficits, reduced infarct volume and edema, and inhibition of microglial activation. In addition, Cyn inhibited tMCAO-induced Alox15 expression. Cyn significantly reduced the overproduction of the M1 microglia-regulated pro-inflammatory cytokines NLRP3, ASC, and cleaved caspase-1, as well as the overproduction of IL-1β and IL-18, induced by tMCAO or OGD/R. Cyn also inhibits the expression of Tfrc, COX2, and Acsl4 in tMCAO and OGD/R-treated mice and BV-2 cells. DISCUSSION: These results suggest that Cyn may attenuate cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury by inhibiting Alox15 to reduce inflammation and reduce ferroptosis. This study reveals the underlying molecular mechanism of Cyn in the treatment of ischemic stroke.