Animal experiment:

Rats[1]Male Wistar rats, weighing 260-320 g are randomly divided into three groups (n = 8 per group). [1] I/R+3'-MOP group: the rats undergo 8 minutes of ischemia and then 3 days of reperfusion. The 3'-Methoxypuerarin (60 mg/kg i.p.) is administrated at the moment of clamping of the carotid arteries. The rats receive daily i.p. injection of 3'-Methoxypuerarin for 3 days. [2] I/R group: the rats undergo 8 minutes of ischemia and 72 h of reperfusion. The same volume of solvent (35% polyethylene glycol solution) is administrated in the same way as 3'-Methoxypuerarin. [3] Control group: the rats undergo a sham operation. Vertebral and carotid arteries are exposed but not occluded. The rats receive a daily i.p. injection of 35% polyethylene glycol solution for 3 days[1].

3'-Methoxypuerarin (3'-MOP) is an isoflavone extracted from radix puerariae that shows neuron protection activity.

3'-Methoxypuerarin increases the number of surviving neurons in the hippocampal CA1 region and markedly reduces the number of apoptotic pyramidal neurons after ischemia/reperfusion injury. 3'-Methoxypuerarin can protect hippocampal neurons against I/R injury by inhibiting apoptosis[1].

[1]. Liu Y, et al. Protection by 3'-methoxypuerarin of rat hippocampal neurons against ischemia/reperfusion injury. Chin J Physiol. 2010 Apr 30;53(2):136-40.