Taohong Siwu Decoction improves cerebral ischemia–reperfusion injury through SIRT1/FOXO1 signaling pathway

Background: Ischemic stroke (IS), generally referred to as cerebral infarction (CI), is a high-risk stroke. After CI, blood vessels need to be reopened, and cerebral ischemia–reperfusion injury (CIRI) is prone to occur during this period. Taohong Siwu Decoction (THSWD) is a traditional Chinese herbal formula that has been used to activate blood circulation and remove blood stasis. It has been confirmed that THSWD can improve CIRI caused by ischemic stroke, but its specific mechanism is not clear. Methods: We observed the protective effect of THSWD on rats that had undergone middle cerebral artery occlusion and reperfusin (MCAO/R) and PC12 cells after oxygen glucose deprivation/re-oxygenation (OGD/R) injury based on the silent information regulator 1/forkhead box protein O1 (SIRT1/FOXO1) signaling pathway. We explored the role of the SIRT1/FOXO1 signaling pathway on the use of THSWD for ischemic stroke (IS) and its mechanism from the perspectives of oxidative stress, autophagy and apoptosis. Experimental tools included neurological deficit assessment, staining, Tunel assay, transmission electron microscopy, flow cytometry, immunofluorescence, immunohistochemistry, and Western blot. Results: We detected activation of the SIRT1/FOXO1 signaling pathway after THSWD administration on MCAO/R rats and PC12 cells after OGD/R. THSWD attenuated oxidative stress, enhanced autophagy, and inhibited apoptosis. Conclusion: THSWD can improve CIRI by modulating the SIRT1/FOXO1 signaling pathway.