Effect of panax ginseng on the activity of cholinesterase in different tissues of experimentally-induced diabetes in rats

In the present study cholinesterase [ChE] activity in seven brain regions [cerebral cortex, thalamus, hypothalamus, midbrain, cerebellum, pons and medulla oblongata], heart, liver and serum of adult male albino rats were determined following diabetes induction by a single subcutaneous injection of alloxan monohydrate [120 mg/kg body weight], oral administration of Panax ginseng extract [100 mg/kg body weight] for 12 consecutive days and the coadministration of both treatments. The enzyme activity was estimated after 2, 4, 8 and 12 days of alloxan and or Panax ginseng administration. Concomitant variation in blood glucose level and body weight of treated rats were also recorded. The results showed that injection of alloxan provoked a highly significant rise in blood glucose level coupled with failure of the treated animals to gain weight. Moreover, diabetes induction resulted in a general increase in ChE activity in most of the brain region studied. The increase was most prominent in the cerebral cortex while the cerebellum and pons were the less affected regions. This effect may be attributed to differences in the regulation of acetylcholine metabolism in these regions. In heart of diabetic rats, ChE activity exhibited a significant decrease after 12 days, however in the liver a significant increase was noticed after 4 days. Serum ChE was highly significantly elevated after 4 and 12 days. Administration of ginseng alone or following alloxan injection was associated with an elevation in ChE activity in the cerebral cortex and thalamus. Meanwhile, a reduction in the enzyme activity appeared in the midbrain, cerebellum, and pons of ginseng treated rats and to a lesser extent in the cerebellum and pons of rats treated with both alloxan and ginseng. In the heart tissue, administration of ginseng was characterized by an elevation in ChE activity, while combined treatment with alloxan and ginseng extract induced nonsignificant changes. Serum and liver ChE was markedly reduced in the ginseng treated rats and tended to be normalized in rats coadministered alloxan and ginseng thus showing an ameliorative effect of ginseng. It can be suggested that ginseng may possess a significant anti-hyperglycemic effect and may prove to be beneficial in improving the management of diabetes. Besides, it may have selective positive effect on the cholinergic system

Choline acetyltransferase activity in selected rat tissues following experimental diabetes and treatment with panax ginseng extract

The activity of the acetylcholine synthesizing enzyme, choline acetyltransferase [ChAT] in seven brain regions, heart, liver and serum of adult male albino rat was determined following diabetes induction by a single subcutaneous injection of alloxan monohydrafe, oral administration of Panax ginseng extract for 12 consecutive days and the co-administration of both treatments. The changes in the enzyme activity of the selected tissues were estimated after 2, 4, 8 and 12 days of alloxan and/or Panax ginseng administration. The induction of diabetes was associated with a marked increase in the ChAT of the hypothalamus, midbrain and cerebellum at all the time intervals examined, a less pronounced increase in the cerebral cortex and thalamus and a decrease in pons and medulla, A tendency towards a decreased ChAT activity in the heart, significant fluctuations in liver and nonsignificant changes in serum were also noticed. However, administration of ginseng extract alone or following alloxan injection revealed enhanced ChAT activities in the different brain regions and nonsignificant decreases in liver and serum. It was concluded that the changes in the ChAT activity and the consequent alteration in the concentration of the cholinergic ncurotransmitter may be the mechanism by which the organism copes with the crisis of hyperglycemia and that ginseng extract may have beneficial effects at improving cholinergic function beside organ-protective functions

Effect of atropine on acetylcholinesterase and monoamine oxidase activities in discrete brain regions of albino rat

The changes in AChE and MAO activities were studied in nine brain regions of albino rat following daily i.p. injection of two separate doses of atropline sulfate [0.8 or 1.6 mg/100 g body wt] for six days. Injection of either of the two doses provoked a general decrease of AChE in most of the brain areas studied. The amount of decrease was not the same at the different time intervals investigated. This decrease may be due to an interruption of brain cholinergic synapses which form a part of inhibitory mechanism controlling the activity of cholinergic neurones. The effect of atropine sulfate on MAO activity is variable from region to region which may be due to both the release of enzyme from the mitochondrial membrane and changes in its catalytic properties

Effect of sodium barbitone on acetylcholinesterase and monoamine oxidase activities in discrete brain regions of albino rat

The effect of i.p. injection of two separate doses of sodium barbitone [10 or 20 mg/100 g body wt.] on the AChE and MAO activities was studied in nine brain regions of albino rat after one, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 days of repeated injection. Injection of 10 mg sod. barbitone/100 g body wt. provoked a general increase in AChE activity in most of the brain parts, however 20 mg sod. barbitone/100 g body wt induced a decrease rather than an increase in the AChE activity of the different brain areas during the whole experimental period. Administration of either of the two doses of sodium barbitone provoked a general increase of MAO activity in the different brain regions and the amount of increase was not the same at the different time intervals investigated. It is possible to conclude that the changes in the activity of the catabolic enzymes [AChE and MAO] in the different brain regions of rat following drug treatment may be associated with the rapid reactions in a general regulatory system against chemical stress