Neuroprotective effects of Bacopa monnieri in experimental model of dementia.
Alzheimer disease (AD) is characterized by dementia that begins as mild short term memory deficit and culminates in total loss of cognitive and executive functions. The present study was conducted to evaluate the neuroprotective potential of Bacopa monnieri (BM), an Indian traditional medicinal plant effective against cognitive impairment, in colchicine-induced dementia. Intracerebroventricular administration of colchicine (15 μg/5 μl) induced cognitive impairment in rats as assessed by elevated plus maze. This was accompanied by a significant increase in oxidative stress in term of enhanced levels of lipid peroxidation and protein carbonyls. Concomitantly, decrease in activity of antioxidant enzymes was observed in colchicine treated animals. BM (50 mg/kg body weight) supplementation reversed memory impairment observed in the colchicine treated rats. BM administration attenuated oxidative damage, as evident by decreased LPO and protein carbonyl levels and restoration in activities of the antioxidant enzymes. The activity of membrane bound enzymes (Na(+)K(+) ATPase and AChE) was altered in colchicine treated brain regions and BM supplementation was able to restore the activity of enzymes to comparable values observed in controls. The results suggest therapeutic potential of BM in the treatment of AD associated cognitive decline.
Department of Biochemistry, Panjab University, Chandigarh 160014, India.
Neetu
N
Saini
Devinder
D
Singh
Rajat
R
Sandhir
D000110:Acetylcholinesterase / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000378:metabolism; D001007:Anxiety / Q000523:psychology; D034681:Bacopa / Q000737:chemistry*; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects; D001923:Brain Chemistry / Q000187:drug effects; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology; D003078:Colchicine; D003704:Dementia / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000523:psychology; D005978:Glutathione / Q000378:metabolism; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology; D004856:Postural Balance / Q000187:drug effects; D050050:Protein Carbonylation / Q000187:drug effects; D011597:Psychomotor Performance / Q000187:drug effects; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D000254:Sodium-Potassium-Exchanging ATPase / Q000378:metabolism; D013535:Suspensions; D013574:Synaptosomes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism
D000975:Antioxidants; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; D010936:Plant Extracts; D013535:Suspensions; D000110:Acetylcholinesterase; D000254:Sodium-Potassium-Exchanging ATPase; D005978:Glutathione; D003078:Colchicine