Background: Antioxidants can prevent oxidative stress produced by free radicals. Since Satureja hortensis contains various antioxidant compounds, this study was conducted to examine the effect of S. hortensis extract on blood-brain barrier permeability, brain edema and neurological deficits.

Materials and Methods: In this experimental study, 70 male Wistar rats were randomly allocated into 5 groups (n=14). The control group received distilled water plus induction of ischemia, three experimental groups received the hydroalcoholic extract of S. hortensis with different doses of 50, 75 and 100mg/kg, respectively, plus induction of ischemia and the sham group received no treatment and induction of ischemia. Pretreatment with S. hortensis extract was performed for 30 days, orally through gavage. Each group was subdivided into two subgroups (n=7) in order to assess the blood-brain barrier permeability (concentration of Evans Blue) and brain edema (brain water content). Moreover, neurological deficit scores were evaluated in the two mentioned subgroups.

Results: Results of the current study showed that S. hortensis extract reduced the concentrations of Evans Blue (8.93±0.75, 7.69±0.74, 6.68±0.56, respectively) and brain water content (82.21±0.71, 81.88±0.69, 80.50±0.89, respectively) in three groups received the extract compared to the control group (84.46±0.81), and reduced neurological deficit scores in the two groups received 75 and 100mg/kg doses of the extract (1.43±0.27 and 1±0.21, respectively) compared to the control group (3.36±0.32).

Conclusion: It seems that S. hortensis extract can exert the neuroprotective effect against stroke damage by increasing the strength of blood-brain barrier and preventing brain edema.