Neuroprotective potential of ethanolic extract of Pseudarthria viscida (L) Wight and Arn against -amyloid(25-35)-induced amnesia in mice.

The neuroprotective potential of ethanolic extract of roots of Pseudarthria viscida (L) Wight and Arn (EEPV) was investigated against -amyloid(25-35)-induced amnesia in mice which is a suitable animal model for Alzheimer’s disease (AD). The senile plaques of -amyloid (A) are major constituents accumulated during the progression of AD as a potent neurotoxicant. In our investigation, intracerebroventricular injection of A(25-35) in mice induced the neurodegeneration, exhibited the increased time of escape latency in behavioral pattern using water maze and decreased the levels of antioxidants namley superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), catalase (CAT) and vitamin C with elevated level of acetylcholinesterase enzyme (AChE). The neuroprotective potential of EEPV was determined by behavioral pattern using water maze and biochemical parameters such as SOD, CAT and GPx and vitamin C content as well as AChE. Mice were treated with EEPV at 200 and 400 mg/kg doses for 21 days. Except control, all animals received a single injection of neurotoxicant A(25-35) on 14th day. In behavioural assessment, treatment with ethanolic extract improved the cognitive function in the water maze and attenuated the elevated levels of AChE with increase in antioxidant enzymes, indicating the neuroprotection with increased levels of vitamin C. These findings suggest that ethanolic extract of P. viscida exerts anti-amnesiac effects and enhances cognitive function.

Sublethal toxicity of deltamethrin in relation to sex: Enzymatic studies in the freshwater fish Channa punctatus.

One of the most widely used active ingredients in the world (for pest control) is deltamethrin, a synthetic pyrethroid. Deltamethrin is popular not only because of its effectiveness, but also for characteristics that allow the insecticide to work efficiently at low doses. Deltamethrin is a Type-II pyrethroid compound that is however highly toxic to fish, while being less toxic to birds and mammals. In the present study, Channa punctatus was used as an animal model to determine the toxicity of deltamethrin. Males weighing 10 ± 2g and females weighing 12 ± 2g were divided into groups of ten each and were exposed to different concentrations of deltamethrin ranging from 0.02 ppm to 0.2 ppm, for five exposure periods, i.e., 1, 7, 15, 20 and 30 days. The acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity and actylcholine (ACh) content were estimated. The levels of AChE activity rose at 24 h relative to control in all the organs, whereas the ACh content dipped. Thereafter, the levels of AChE activity progressively decreased through 7 days, and continued upto the 15th day, mirroring the steady increase in ACh. From 15th day onwards, the levels of AChE activity gradually increased, and approached that of the control at 30 day exposure, whereas the levels of ACh content displayed an opposite trend.