title: Protective effect of Calendula officinalis Linn. flowers against 3-nitropropionic acid induced experimental Huntington's disease in rats.
abstract: Oxidative stress (OS) and nitric oxide mechanisms have been recently proposed in 3-nitropropionic acid (3-NP)-induced neurotoxicity. The compounds, having antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and estrogenic effects, have been suggested for neuroprotection in different experimental models. Calendula officinalis Linn. flower extract (COE) is known for its potent antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, estrogenic and neuroprotective activities. Hence, the present study was designed to evaluate the neuroprotective effect of COE on 3-NP-induced neurotoxicity in rats by observing behavioral changes, OS and striatal damage in rat brain. Adult female Wistar rats were pretreated with vehicle or COE (100 and 200 mg/kg) for 7 days, followed by cotreatment with 3-NP (15 mg/kg, intraperitoneally) for the next 7 days. At the end of the treatment schedule, rats were evaluated for alterations in sensory motor functions and short-term memory. Animals were sacrificed and brain homogenates were used for the estimation of lipid peroxidation (LPO), glutathione, total thiols, glutathione S-transferase, catalase and nitrite. A set of brain slices was used for the evaluation of neuronal damage in the striatal region of the brain. 3-NP caused significant alterations in animal behavior, oxidative defense system evidenced by raised levels of LPO and nitrite concentration, and depletion of antioxidant levels. It also produced a loss of neuronal cells in the striatal region. Treatment with COE significantly attenuated behavioral alterations, oxidative damage and striatal neuronal loss in 3-NP-treated animals. The present study shows that COE is protective against 3-NP-induced neurotoxicity in rats. The antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and estrogenic properties of COE may be responsible for its neuroprotective action.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, Sree Siddaganga College of Pharmacy, Tumkur, Karnataka, India.
authors.forename: B D
authors.initials: BD
authors.lastname: Shivasharan
authors.forename: Pandian
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Nagakannan
authors.forename: Boreddy Shivanandappa
authors.initials: BS
authors.lastname: Thippeswamy
authors.forename: Veeresh Prabakar
authors.initials: VP
authors.lastname: Veerapur
authors.forename: Punit
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bansal
authors.forename: Mazhuvancherry K
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Unnikrishnan
mesh_terms: D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects; D020838:Calendula / Q000737:chemistry*; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005260:Female; D035264:Flowers / Q000737:chemistry*; D006816:Huntington Disease / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D008124:Locomotion / Q000187:drug effects; D018782:Maze Learning / Q000187:drug effects; D009574:Nitro Compounds / Q000633:toxicity*; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000032:analysis / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011422:Propionates / Q000633:toxicity*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar
chemical_list: D009574:Nitro Compounds; D010936:Plant Extracts; D011422:Propionates; C015392:3-nitropropionic acid