Neuroprotective and neurotrophic efficacy of Ginkgo biloba extracts against 3-nitropropionic acid-induced oxidative stress in a rat model of Huntington's disease

Abstract

Huntington's disease (HD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder. Ginkgo biloba extracts (GBE), a phytoestrogen, has been widely used for treating coronary heart disease and neurological disease. The present study examined the potential neuroprotective and neurotrophic efficacy of GBE against 3-nitropropionic acid (3-NP)-induced oxidative stress in a rat model of HD and explored the mechanisms of action. 60 Male SD rats were pretreated with GBE (25 and 50 mg/kg b.w.) orally prior to the intraperitoneally (i.p.) administration of 3-NP (12 mg/kg b.w.) for 15 days. Nimodipine (12 mg/kg, po) was used as positive control drugs. The body weight, grip strength and behavior were monitored within 5th, 10th and 15th day after 3-NP treatment. Then the animals were sacrificed, neuronal damage in striatum was estimated using Nissl staining. Memory (Morris water maze), antioxidants enzymes, acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity, cycloxygenase-2 (COX-2) and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) expression were analyzed in rat model of HD. Present results shown that administration of 3-NP resulted in a marked reduction in the body weight, memory, grip strength locomotion activity and significantly increased oxidative stress, AChE activity, COX-2 and inducible iNOS expression. GBE (25 and 50 mg/kg) treated animals exhibited a significant improvement in behavioural, biochemical, histological alterations and oxidative stress parameters in comparison to only 3-NP treated animals. Present results shown dose-dependently improved 3-NP-induced behavioral, biochemical, and enzymatic changes. Similar effects were obtained with the positive control drugs nimodipine. Study suggests neuroprotective, neurotrophic and memory enhancing effects for GBE in a rat model of HD.