Introduction and Background: Cerebral ischemia causes loss of hippocampus pyramidal cells. Pinene (C10H16) is a bicyclic, double bond, terpenoid hydrocarbon. alpha-pinene among the best-known representatives of a broad family of monoterpenes and has anti-apoptosis properties. In this study, we investigated the neuroprotective effects of alpha-pinene in rats after global cerebral ischemia. Material and Methods: Male Wistar rats underwent a MCAO surgery for 1 hour. Saline as a vehicle and alpha-pinene at doses of alpha-pinene (50, and 100 mg/kg) were intraperitoneally injected immediately after reperfusion. 24 h after focal brain ischemia DNA fragmentation, apoptosis, in hippocampus CA3 area were detected using TUNEL assay. Results: The results showed that treatment with alpha-pinene significantly reduces apoptosis in hippocampal CA3 area, compared to the ischemia group. Conclusions and Discussion: In conclusion, alpha-pinene treatment, found for the first time in the present study, reduces hippocampus CA3 injuries after cerebral ischemia through preventing neuronal apoptosis.
