Potential of Purple Sweet Potato (Ipomoea batatas L) To Increase BDNF Level and VEGF Expression in The Cerebellum of Ischemic Stroke Rats

This paper reports the effect of anthocyanin from purple sweet potato in the cerebellum of ischemic stroke rats model by Middle Cerebral Artery Occlusion (MCAO) technique. This technique was carried out by ligating the blood flow in External Carotid Artery (ECA), Common Carotid Artery (CCA) and Internal Carotid Artery (ICA) for 3 hours, followed by reperfusion. The MCAO technique proved a technique for preparing ischemic stroke rats. This technique induces releasing of Brain-Derived Nuclear Factor (BDNF) and Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF) in the cerebellum of ischemic stroke rats. The levels of BDNF measured by ELISA technique and VEGF expression used immunohistochemistry technique. The results showed that anthocyanin from purple sweet potato increases the level of both BDNF and VEGF expression in the cerebellum of ischemic stroke rats. It is suggested that anthocyanin could be used as a therapeutic agent for ischemic stroke