Introduction: Cerebral ischemia is a common cause of mortality, which can be described as a focal brain defect secondary to trauma. This study aimed to determine the relationship between consumption of Tamarindus indica aqueous extracts and stroke volume, as well as the neurological disorders in a cerebrovascular model of rats.
 
Materials & methods: In the present experimental  study thirty- five male wistar rats were divided into five groups (n=7): the control group (receiving distilled water + induction ischemia), three experimental groups (receiving aqueous extract of T. indica with doses of 50, 75 and 100 mg/kg plus induction of ischemia) and the sham group (receiving distilled water + no induction of ischemia). The pretreatment was performed for 30 days, orally via gavage. Ischemia induced by middle cerebral artery occlusion was performed by Longa et al method. Data were analyzed by software SPSS, test ANOVA and disorders by test Mann- Whitney.
 
Findings: Obtained data indicated that pretreatment of T. indica reduced the total volume of tissue infarct in two groups receiving the extract with 75 mg/kg (155/6±10/16), 100mg/kg (88/83±16/33) doses compared to control (225/66±3/45) groups (P=0/000). Extracts reduced neurological deficit scores in the two groups receiving the doses 75 and 100 mg/kg of extracts to the control group.
 
Discussion & conclusions: Consumption of T. indica aqueous extracts can reduce symptoms of ischemic stroke.
 

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