Neurobehavioral assessment of hydroalcoholic extract of Trigonella foenum-graecum seeds in rodent models of Parkinson's disease.
BACKGROUND
Neuroprotective therapy to rescue dopaminergic neurons is an important trait in the management of Parkinson's disease (PD).


OBJECTIVE
The present study identified and evaluated SFSE-T, a standardized hydroalcoholic extract of Trigonella foenum-graecum L. seeds (Fabaceae), in animal models of PD.


METHODS
The identification of SFSE-T was carried out by high-performance liquid chromatography for the marker compound trigonelline (TGN). The effects of single dose oral treatment of SFSE-T (10, 30 or 100 mg/kg) were studied using animal models of PD, namely, 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA)-induced unilateral lesions in rats, and 4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP)-induced neurodegeneration in C57BL/6 mice. The effects of SFSE-T on monoamino oxidase (MAO) enzyme in vitro as well as possible side effects of SFSE-T in vivo were also evaluated.


RESULTS
The concentration of TGN in a test sample of SFSE-T was found to be 82%. SFSE-T (30 mg/kg, oral) showed a significant increase in the number of ipsilateral rotations (45.67 rotations in 30-min period) as compared with vehicle control group (no rotations) when tested in 6-OHDA-induced unilateral lesioned rats. SFSE-T (30 mg/kg, oral) showed significant reversal of motor dysfunction (spontaneous motor activity scores, speed, distance traveled and number of square crossed) caused by MPTP induced lesions in C57BL/6 mice in pretreatment (1 h) schedule but not in post-treatment (1 h) schedule. SFSE-T neither showed anticholinergic effects nor showed selective MAO-B enzyme inhibition in vitro.


CONCLUSIONS
SFSE-T showed reversal of motor symptoms in an animal model of PD probably through neuroprotective properties.
Department of Pharmacology, Poona College of Pharmacy, Bharati Vidyapeeth Deemed University, Pune, Maharashtra, India. sbodhind@rediffmail.com
Vaibhav
V
Gaur
Subhash L
SL
Bodhankar
V
V
Mohan
Prasad A
PA
Thakurdesai
D000284:Administration, Oral; D000470:Alkaloids / Q000032:analysis / Q000302:isolation & purification; D000818:Animals; D000978:Antiparkinson Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology; D020734:Parkinsonian Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012639:Seeds; D029910:Trigonella / Q000737:chemistry*
D000470:Alkaloids; D000978:Antiparkinson Agents; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; D010936:Plant Extracts; C009560:trigonelline