Neuroprotective effect of Bacopa monniera on ischemia induced brain injury.
OBJECTIVE
Brain stroke is a leading cause of death without effective treatment. B. monniera, an Indian herbal medicine, exerts antioxidant activity and antistress activity by modulating the antioxidative defence system. We wanted to test if B. monniera could alleviate the ischemia induced brain injury and cognitive dysfunction in Wistar rats.


METHODS
We studied the effect of B. monniera (120mg kg(-1), 160mg kg(-1) and 240mg kg(-1) P.O.) on transient intracarotid artery (ICA) occlusion induced ischemia by testing the neurobehavioral and biochemical parameters on treated and control rats.


RESULTS
B. monniera attenuated the reduced transfer latency in ischemic rats in a step through test and showed a protective effect on ischemia induced memory impairment in the plus maze task. It also showed a marginal improvement in neurodeficit score and fore limb muscle grip strength. B. monniera reduced the infarct size in the ischemic brain. It also decreased nitrite, nitrate and lipid peroxidation and significantly improved catalase activity.


CONCLUSIONS
These observations suggest the neuroprotective and antioxidant activity of B. monniera on ischemia induced brain injury and pave the way for future investigations.
Saraf
Manish Kumar
MK
Department of Neurology, Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Sector-12, Chandigarh, 160012, India.
Prabhakar
Sudesh
S
Anand
Akshay
A
D020236:Amnesia, Transient Global / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000523:psychology; D000818:Animals; D001362:Avoidance Learning / Q000187:drug effects; D034681:Bacopa / Q000737:chemistry*; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects; D001921:Brain / Q000473:pathology; D001923:Brain Chemistry / Q000187:drug effects; D002545:Brain Ischemia / Q000188:drug therapy*; D002374:Catalase / Q000378:metabolism; D002544:Cerebral Infarction / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control; D005979:Glutathione Peroxidase / Q000378:metabolism; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D018782:Maze Learning / Q000187:drug effects; D008568:Memory / Q000187:drug effects; D009422:Nervous System Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000378:metabolism; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004856:Postural Balance / Q000187:drug effects; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D020521:Stroke / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000378:metabolism
D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; D010936:Plant Extracts; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D002374:Catalase; D005979:Glutathione Peroxidase; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase