Escin displays neuroprotective effects in mice with intracerebral hemorrhage through ameliorating intestinal injury.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the relationship between secondary brain injury and intestinal injury in intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) and whether escin can protect the function of the intestine and inhibit lipopolysaccharide (LPS) entry into the blood, thereby attenuating brain injury after ICH. METHODS: Mice were injected stereotactically with collagenase to establish a model of ICH. The Garcia test, forelimb placement test, brain water content, blood-brain barrier (BBB) permeability, intestinal injury, intestinal permeability, and serum LPS levels were evaluated. The ICH mice were treated with escin to investigate the effect of escin on intestinal injury and neurological function. RESULTS: The severity of secondary brain injury was highly correlated with the degree of intestinal injury. After administering escin, intestinal injury was significantly alleviated, intestinal permeability was markedly reduced, and LPS blood levels were significantly decreased. Additionally, results from the Garcia and forelimb placement tests showed significant improvement. However, intraperitoneal injection of LPS, simulating the entry of LPS into the bloodstream due to intestinal injury, weakened the neuroprotective effects of escin without affecting its intestinal protective effects. CONCLUSIONS: The ICH-induced brain injury caused intestinal barrier damage, resulting in LPS in the gut to enter blood circulation, which subsequently disrupted the BBB. Therefore, LPS plays an important role in ICH-induced secondary brain injury. Escin exerts its neuroprotective effect by attenuating gut injury following ICH.