EFFECT OF HYDROALCOHOLIC EXTRACTS OF PARKINSONIA ACULEATA L. AND ANANUS COMOSUS L. ON OXOTREMORINE INDUCED PARKINSONISM IN WISTAR ALBINO RATS

Abstract

Parkinson’s disease is progressive neurodegenerative disease that occurs due to several causative factors although dopamine deficiency is prime characteristic of the disease. Environmental toxin, genetic abnormalities, drugs, oxidative stress are some of causative factor responsible for development of parkinson’s disease. Current pharmacotherapy of this disorder is able to provide only sy mptomatic relief. Moreover their use is associated with lot of adverse effects. The importance of medicinal plants comes in this context. In present study oxotremorine (2 mg/kg) was used to induce the parkinsonism in wistar albino rats. Hydroalcoholic extr acts of Parkinsonia aculeata L. seeds at the dose of (200 mg/kg) and Ananas cosmosus L. Fruits at the dose (250 mg/kg) were administered. The extracts of both the plants were administered prior to oxotremorine administration. At the interval of each hour t remor score, rigidity score, hypokinesia score, postural flexion score and postural immobility score were recorded. The result data shows that oxotremorine induces the tremor, rigidity, hypokinesia, postural flexion and postural immobility where as adminis tration of hydroalcoholic extracts of Parkinsonia aculeata L. seeds at the dose of (200 mg/kg) and Ananas cosmosus L. fruits at the dose (250 mg/kg) significantly reduced the tremor score, rigidity score, hypokinesia score, postural flexion and postural im mobility score at (P < 0.05).