Pterostilbene Prevents Intestinal Ischemia Reperfusion Injury in Wistar Rats via Modulation of Antioxidant Defense and Inflammation

Purpose: To evaluate the protective mechanisms afforded by pterostilbene against intestinal ischemia/reperfusion ( II/R ) injury in Wistar rats.
Methods: Male Wistar rats were divided into 4 groups as follows: Control group; intestinal ischemia/reperfusion (II/R) group; pterostilbene only group (20 mg/kg) of body weight and pterostilbene followed by intestinal ischemia/reperfusion (II/R) treated group. The study evaluated oxidative stress markers, including reactive oxygen species (ROS) and lipid peroxide levels, protein carbonyl content, antioxidant status (superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase, glutathione-S-transferase, glutathione content) and membrane-bound ATPase activity. The levels of pro-inflammatory mediators, including nuclear factor- kappa B (NF-κB), cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α and IL-1β), were also evaluated.
Results: The results showed that pterostilbene (20 mg/kg) followed by intestinal ischemia/reperfusion (II/R) significantly lowered the level of lipid peroxidation (41.33%), protein carbonyl content (PCC, 44.18 %) and ROS (29.14%) (p < 0.001) but significantly restored membrane-bound ATPase activities (Ca²⁺ATPase, 30.76%; Na⁺/K⁺ATPase, 21.42%; Mg²⁺ATPase, 30.06%) (p < 0.003), compared with rats induced with II/R. Furthermore, pterostilbene significantly down-regulated NF-κB and COX-2 expressions (30%, p < 0.05) compared to rats with II/R injury.
Conclusion: The study reveals that pterostilbene offers significant protective activity in rats owing to its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.

Keywords
Pterostilbene; Intestinal reperfusion; Ischemia; Inflammation; Antioxidant; Oxidative stress