ABSTRACT
Heavy metal exposure to lead is associated with severe neuronal impairment through oxidative stress mediated by reactive oxygen species. This study investigated the potential neuroprotective effect of esculin on the lead (Pb)-induced brain neurotoxicity C57bl/6 model. Four groups of mice were used for the study (control, lead acetate-treated (10 mg/kg), lead acetate and esculin (10 mg/kg +15 mg/kg) and esculin (15 mg/kg) alone treated for 14 consecutive days. Lead-induced alterations in the level of lipid peroxidation, nitric oxide, protein carbonyl, and enzymatic and non-enzymatic activity were measured in brain homogenates. Histological changes in the hippocampus and cortex were also examined. The results documented that PbAc significantly increased hippocampal and cortical lipid peroxidation and nitrite levels and decreased glutathione content, superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase, and glutathione reductase activity. Histological observations of lead-induced neurotoxicity revealed severe damage and a reduction in neuronal density in the hippocampus and cortex. However, treatment with esculin rescued hippocampal and cortical neurons from PbAc-induced neurotoxicity by restoring the balance between oxidants and antioxidants and improvise motor coordination and memory activity. Esculin also attenuates the morphological damage and neuronal density in the hippocampal and cortex regions of C57bl/6 mice. Hence, the study suggests that esculin may be useful in combating lead acetate-induced neuronal injury.
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE@#To explore the effect of alcoholic extract of Bacopa monniera (AEBM) on high cholesterol diet-induced rats.@*METHODS@#The shade-dried and coarsely powdered whole plant material (Bacopa monniera) was extracted with 90% ethanol, finally filtered and dried in vacuum pump. The experimental rats were divided into 4 groups: control (group-I), Rats fed with hypercholesterolemic diet (HCD) for 45 days [4% cholesterol (w/w) and 1% cholic acid], Rats fed with HCD for 45 days+AEBM (40mg/kg, body weight/day orally) for last 30 days (group-III) and AEBM alone (group-IV). Blood and tissues (Aorta) were removed to ice cold containers for various biochemical and histological analysis.@*RESULTS@#AEBM treatment significantly decreased the levels of TC, TG, PL, LDL, VLDL, atherogenic index, LDL/HDL ratio, and TC/HDL ratio but significantly increased the level of HDL when compared to HCD induced rats. Activities on liver antioxidant status (SOD, CAT, GPx, GR, GST) were significantly raised with concomitant reduction in the level of LPO were obtained in AEBM treated rats when compared to HCD rats. Treatment with AEBM significantly lowered the activity of SGOT, LDH and CPK. Histopathology of aorta of cholesterol fed rat showed intimal thickening and foam cell deposition were noted.@*CONCLUSIONS@#These results suggests that AEBM extended protection against various biochemical changes and aortic pathology in hypercholesterolemic rats. Thus the plant may therefore be useful for therapeutic treatment of clinical conditions associated hypercholesterolemia.