Combination of Ocimum sanctum extract and Levetiracetam ameliorates cognitive dysfunction and hippocampal architecture in rat model of Alzheimer's disease.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common neurodegenerative disease which affects more than 40 million people worldwide with progressive loss of memory and cognitive functions. It is reported, persistent AD is also one of the main causes of epilepsy in elders and comorbidity of both these will contribute to worsening the health status of AD patients. Recently, herbal plants with potent neuroprotective and antioxidant properties were used for increasing the quality of life in neurodegenerative disease patients. The present study was conceptualized to access the protective effect of Ocimum sanctum extract (OSE) and Levetiracetam (LEV) and their combination (OSE+LEV) against AD and epilepsy associated with AD in the rat AD model. AD was induced in aged male Wistar albino rats with Amyloid-ß (Aß) by intracerebroventricular administration. The results reveal, treatment with OSE, LEV and OSE+LEV significantly reversed the memory impairment, increases the BDNF expressions and decreases AChE activity in Aß induced AD animals. Expression of A-ß and p-tau in the hippocampus was significantly reduced in treatment group when compared to the control animals. Treatment with OSE and OSE+LEV also restored the hippocampal architecture by ameliorating the neuronal count in CA1, CA3 and DG regions. It also observed that treatment has decreased the excitoneurotoxicity evidenced by decreased glutamate and increased GABA levels and thus provided protection against epilepsy. Treatment groups also exhibited a potent antioxidant activity when tested endogenous antioxidant enzymes SOD, GSH and LPO in the brain hippocampus. Our findings provide evidence for use of OSE, LEV and OSE+LEV against AD and epilepsy associated with AD in Aß induced AD animal model. However, further clinical studies are required to prove the use of OSE, LEV and OSE+LEV in the management of AD and AD-associated epilepsy in human volunteers.

Antidiabetic, antihyperlipidemic and antioxidant effect of Vincamine, in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats.

Diabetes mellitus is the most common endocrine disorder characterized by hyperglycemia resulting from defects in insulin secretion or insulin action. The present study was designed to investigate the antidiabetic effects of vincamine, one of the monoterpenoid indole alkaloid, in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rat model. Diabetes was induced in rats by an intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin (40 mg/kg bw). Vincamine 20 and 30 mg/kg.bw were administrated orally as a single dose per day to the diabetic rats for 30 days. The vehicle control group received 0.5% dimethyl sulfoxide for the same duration. After 30 days of treatment, fasting blood glucose, glycosylated haemoglobin, total cholesterol, triglyceride, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and very low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels were significantly increased, whereas, body weight, plasma insulin, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, antioxidant enzymes and reduced glutathione were markedly decreased in diabetic rats. Treatment with vincamine significantly restored these parameters to the normal level. The protective effect of vincamine was compared with glibenclamide, a well-known hypoglycemic drug. Our results clearly suggest that vincamine exhibit hypoglycemic, hypolipidemic and antioxidant activity. The anti-diabetic effect of vincamine was comparable to the protective effect of glibenclamide, suggesting its potential as a natural anti-diabetic compound with therapeutic benefits.

Action of corilagin on hyperglycemia, hyperlipidemia and oxidative stress in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats.

Diabetes mellitus is the world's most common endocrine disease involving metabolic disorders of carbohydrate, protein and fat. This study was undertaken to investigate the anti-diabetic activity of corilagin, a member of polyphenolic tannins used against hyperglycemia and many other diseases in well-known animal models. Diabetes was induced chemically by intraperitoneal administration of Streptozotocin (40 mg/kg bw) to albino Wistar rats. Diabetic rats showed significant increase in the levels of fasting blood glucose, glycated haemoglobin, total cholesterol, triglyceride, low density lipoprotein cholesterol, very low density lipoprotein cholesterol, and a significant decrease in the level of body weight, plasma insulin, high density lipoprotein cholesterol, antioxidant activities, viz. superoxide dismutase, catalase and reduced glutathione when compared to controls. However, after 30 days of oral administration of corilagin (10 and 20 mg/kg bw/day) to these diabetic rats evoked significant alterations in the above mentioned parameters. The effect of corilagin was compared with the standard drug, glibenclamide (0.1 mg/kg body weight/day). Thus, the present study suggests that the corilagin acts as a natural, effective therapeutic agent to regulate diabetes, by exhibiting antidiabetic, antihyperlipidemic and antioxidant properties in STZ induced diabetic rats.