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Neuroprotective effects of Withania somnifera on 6-hydroxydopamine induced Parkinsonism in rats

Sofiyan Saleem

Abdullah Shafique Ahmad

Mubeen Ahmad Ansari

Seema Yousuf

Md Nasrul Hoda

Neurotoxicology Laboratory, Department of Medical Elementology & Toxicology, Jamia Hamdard (Hamdard University), Hamdard Nagar, New Delhi, India

Fakhrul Islam

Neurotoxicology Laboratory, Department of Medical Elementology & Toxicology, Jamia Hamdard (Hamdard University), Hamdard Nagar, New Delhi 110062, India, fislam2001{at}yahoo.co.in

6-Hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) is one of the most widely used rat models for Parkinson's disease. There is ample evidence in the literature that 6-OHDA elicits its toxic manifestations through oxidant stress. In the present study, we evaluated the anti-parkinsonian effects of Withania somnifera extract, which has been reported to have potent anti-oxidant, anti-peroxidative and free radical quenching properties in various diseased conditions. Rats were pretreated with 100, 200 and 300 mg/kg b.w. of the W. somnifera extract orally for 3 weeks. On day 21, 2 mL of 6-OHDA (10 mg in 0.1% in ascorbic acidsaline) was infused into the right striatum while sham operated group received 2 mL of the vehicle. Three weeks after 6-OHDA injections, rats were tested for neurobehavioral activity and were killed 5 weeks after lesioning for the estimation of lipidperoxidation, reduced glutathione content, activities of glutathione-S-transferase, glutathione reductase, glutathione peroxidase, superoxide dismutase and catalase, catecholamine content, dopaminergic D₂ receptor binding and tyrosine hydroxylase expression. W. somnifera extract was found to reverse all the parameters significantly in a dose-dependent manner. Thus, the study demonstrates that the extract of W. somnifera may be helpful in protecting the neuronal injury in Parkinson's disease.

Key Words: antioxidant • dopamine • 6-hydroxydopamine • oxidative stress • Parkinson's disease • Withania somnifera

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