Abstract
The aim of this study was to investigate the potent neuroprotective property of ethanol extract of Ocimum sanctum (EEOS) leaf (Holy basil, Family: Labiataea) against excitotoxicity induced neurodegeneration by using monosodium-L-glutamate (MSG) in Sprague-Dawley rats. The animals received EEOS (50, 100 and 200 mg/kg) and memantine (MMT, 20 mg/kg) daily for 7 days. On all the 7 days, MSG (2g/kg, i.p.) was administered one hour before drug treatment. The animals were observed for neurobehavioral performance on 1st, 3rd, 5th and 7th day. Oxidative damage and histopathological analysis were also assessed. EEOS (100 and 200 mg/kg, p.o.) and MMT (20 mg/kg, i.p.) administration significantly improved body weight and attenuated locomotor activity, rotarod performance and foot-fault test as compared with MSG treated group. In addition, EEOS was found to restore reduced glutathione (GSH), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), glutathione reductase (GR), catalase (CAT), super oxide dismutase (SOD) and Na+-K+ ATPase. Conversely, the elevated level of lipid peroxidation and nitrite concentration in MSG treated group was attenuated significantly in EEOS group in comparison to MSG treated group. Histopathological evaluation showed that treatment with EEOS and MMT signiï¬cantly attenuated neuronal death and increased the density of neurons after MSG treatment. Thus, these findings suggest that EEOS contains rosmarinic acid and ursolic acid in addition to other bioactive principles may have utility in the preventing and/or treating the neurodegenerative diseases and its protective effects may be due to the amelioration of excitotoxicity, oxidative stress, neurological and behavioral alterations.However, further studies are necessary to clearly define mechanism responsible. Key words: Ocimum sanctum, F Holy basil, sodium glutamate, neurological, neurodegeneration. rosmarinic acid
Highlights
Glutamate is present in very high concentrations in the brain and is believed to be a major excitatory neurotransmitter in the mammalian central nervous system (CNS) (Fonnum, 1984)
ethanol extract of Ocimum sanctum (EEOS) (200 mg/kg) per se treatment exhibited no significant effect on locomotor activity and fall off time as compared to control group
The results of present study indicate that the treatment with EEOS significantly improved body weight and motor deficits, marked reduction in oxidative stress, restored antioxidant defense mechanisms and reduction in histological changes characterized by monosodium glutamate (MSG)-induced neurodegeneration study
Summary
Glutamate is present in very high concentrations in the brain and is believed to be a major excitatory neurotransmitter in the mammalian central nervous system (CNS) (Fonnum, 1984). L-monosodium glutamate (MSG), has been shown to be toxic to neurons in vivo (Mcbean and Roberts, 1984; Kubo et al, 1993) and in. In spite of its ubiquitous role as a neurotransmitter, glutamate is highly toxic to neurons, a phenomenon dubbed ‘excitotoxicity’ (Choi, 1988). Studies have demonstrated that synaptic glutamate release and uptake are energy (ATP)-dependent, and any impairment or breakdown may lead to generation of ROS and inactivation of glutamate reuptake mechanism leading to excessive glutamate accumulation. Upon destruction of neurons by this mechanism, additional glutamate may be released further increasing the level of extracellular glutamate and thereby propagating the excitotoxicity and death of additional glutamate-sensitive neurons in the region of involvement (Nicholis and Attwell, 1990; Novelli et al, 1988)
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
