Minocycline and magnesium in combination may be a good therapeutic intervention for cerebral ischemia

Abstract

A neuroprotective strategy through a combination therapy is always being superior to any other singular therapeutic interventions, as these acts through a multifauceted approach within the brain during cerebral ischemia. Therefore, the development of a potential new combination of drug is necessitated which can bring about desirable improved neuroprotection targeting different pathways against ischemic stroke. Numerous past studies have enumerated the neuroprotective roles of minocycline and magnesium administered in single against cerebral ischemia in animal model hence we hypothesized that by using magnesium with minocycline in combination would provide additive neuroprotection than either of the agents used alone. In this article, we discuss our hypothesis regarding the possibility of minocycline and magnesium as a potent combination which may have a positive therapeutic role in treatment of cerebral ischemia through its anti-inflammatory, anti-apoptotic and anti-oxidative characteristics with magnesium contributing as a regulator of increased calcium influx. © 2011 Elsevier Ltd.