Neuroprotective Effect Against Ischemic Stroke of the Novel Functional Drink Containing Anthocyanin and Dietary Fiber Enriched-Functional Ingredient from the Mixture of Banana and Germinated Jasmine Rice.

Due to the stroke-protective effects of dietary fiber and anthocyanin together with the synergistic interaction, we hypothesized that the functional drink containing the anthocyanins and dietary fiber-enriched functional ingredient from banana and germinated black Jasmine rice (BR) should protect against ischemic stroke. BR at doses of 300, 600, and 900 mg/kg body weight (BW) was orally given to male Wistar rats weighing 290-350 g once daily for 21 days, and they were subjected to ischemic reperfusion injury induced by temporary occlusion of the middle cerebral artery (MCAO/IR) for 90 min. The treatment was prolonged for 21 days after MCAO/IR. They were assessed for brain infarction volume, neuron density, Nrf2, MDA, and catalase in the cortex together with serum TNF-α and IL-6. Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium spp. in feces were also assessed. Our results showed that BR improved the increase in brain infarcted volume, MDA, TNF-α, and IL-6 and the decrease in neuron density, Nrf2, catalase, and both bacteria spp. induced by MCAO/IR. These data suggest the stroke-protective effect of the novel functional drink, and the action may involve the improvement of Nrf2, oxidative stress, inflammation, and the amount of Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium spp.