Centella asiatica L. Urban protects against morphological aberrations induced by chronic unpredictable mild stress in rat’s hippocampus via attenuation of oxidative stress

Abstract

ABSTRACT Thepresent study evaluated the effect of Centellaasiatica L. Urban (CA) extracts on ultrastructure and oxidative stressparameters on chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS) rat’s hippocampi. Ratswere divided into six groups (n=6) and treated as follows: Group 1, Unstressed+ normal saline (control); Group 2, CUMS + normal saline (Model); Group 3, CUMS+ Flx (10 mg/kg) (FLX); Groups 4, CUMS + CA (200 mg/kg) (CA 200); Group 5, CUMS+ CA (400 mg/kg) (CA 400) and Group 6, CUMS + CA (800 mg/kg) (CA 800). Ninedifferent stressors were administered to the rats for 8 weeks consecutively,with concurrent administration of fluoxetine or CA. The hippocampi of the ratswere evaluated by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and oxidative stress biomarkerswere also determined. Qualitative TEM results showed defective mitochondria,nucleus, myelin sheaths and reduced numbers of synapses in CUMS rats as well asincreased oxidative stress biomarkers. Administration of CA prevented some ofthe structural and biochemical aberrations observed in response to stress in amanner comparable with fluoxetine, a selective serotonin-reuptake inhibitor. Conclusively,CA ameliorates structural defects induced by CUMS in the rat hippocampus, witha potential therapeutic importance in the treatment of stress and depression.