title: Neuroprotective effect of Acorus calamus against middle cerebral artery occlusion-induced ischaemia in rat.
abstract: The neuroprotective potential of ethanol:water (1:1) extract of rhizomes of Acorus calamus (AC-002) has been investigated in middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO)-induced ischaemia in rats. A significant behavioural impairment in Rota-Rod performance and grid walking was observed in rats, 72 hours after MCAO as compared to sham-operated animals. These rats also exhibited an increase in lipid peroxidation (cortex -157%, corpus striatum - 58%) and a decrease in glutathione levels (cortex - 59%, corpus striatum - 34%) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity (cortex - 64%, corpus striatum - 32%) as compared to sham-operated animals. Ischaemic rats treated with AC-002 (25 mg/kg, p.o.) exhibited a significant improvement in neurobehavioural performance viz. Rota-Rod performance and grid walking as compared to the MCAO group. Interestingly, treatment with AC-002 in MCAO rats significantly decreased malonaldialdehyde levels in cortex as compared to ischaemic rats. A significant increase in reduced glutathione levels and SOD activity was also observed both in cortex and corpus striatum in MCAO rats treated with AC-002 in comparison to MCAO rats. Treatment with AC-002 in MCAO rats also reduced the contralateral cortical infarct area (19%) as compared to MCAO rats (33%). Neurological function score was improved in the AC-002-treated rats as compared to the MCAO group. The results of the present study indicate the neuroprotective efficacy of A. calamus in the rat model of ischaemia.
authors.affiliation: Industrial Toxicology Research Centre, PO Box 80, M.G. Marg, Lucknow 226001, India.
authors.forename: Pradeep K
authors.initials: PK
authors.lastname: Shukla
authors.forename: Vinay K
authors.initials: VK
authors.lastname: Khanna
authors.forename: M Mohd
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Ali
authors.forename: Rakesh
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Maurya
authors.forename: M Y
authors.initials: MY
authors.lastname: Khan
authors.forename: Rikhab C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Srimal
mesh_terms: D029023:Acorus / Q000737:chemistry*; D000818:Animals; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects; D002545:Brain Ischemia / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D005978:Glutathione / Q000378:metabolism; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D020768:Middle Cerebral Artery; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018517:Plant Roots / Q000737:chemistry; D004856:Postural Balance / Q000187:drug effects; D011597:Psychomotor Performance / Q000187:drug effects; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; D010936:Plant Extracts; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase; D005978:Glutathione