Protective Effects of Epifriedelinol in a Rat Model of Traumatic Brain Injury Assessed with Histological and Hematological Markers

BACKGROUND: This study evaluated the protective effects of epifriedelinol (EFD) in a rat model of traumatic brain injury (TBI). METHODOLOGY: TBI was induced by dropping a weight from a specific height. The animals were separated into control, TBI, and EFD 100 and 200 mg/kg groups. The latter received 100 and 200 mg/kg EFD, respectively, for 2 days beginning 30 min after inducing TBI. The neurological examination score, permeability of the blood–brain barrier (BBB), water content of the brain, cytokine levels, and oxidative stress parameters were measured in the rats. The effects of EFD on glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP)-positive cells were evaluated using immunohistochemistry. RESULT: The EFD treatment significantly decreased the neurological score, permeability of the BBB, and water content of brain compared with the TBI group. The levels of interleukin-1β (IL-1β), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), and oxidative stress were significantly decreased in the EFD-treated groups. The number of GFAP-positive cells was also significantly reduced in the EFD-treated groups. CONCLUSION: EFD attenuates the secondary injury in TBI rats by reducing the serum cytokine levels and oxidative stress.