Neuroprotective Effect of Clitorea Ternatea Extract On 6-Hydroxydopamine Induced Parkinsonism In Aged Rats

Parkinson's disease (PD) is one of the commonest neurodegenerative diseases, and oxidative stress has been evidenced to play a vital role. The present study was designed to delineate the neuroprotective effect of Clitorea ternatea extract (CTE) enriched with bioflavanoids on lipidperoxidation (LPO), antioxidant-status and repairing enzymes of 6-hydroxydopamine         (6-OHDA)-induced neurotoxicity and DNA content in the discrete regions of brain associated with Parkinsonism in aged rat brain.  Materials & Methods: Aged male rats of 24 and above months were assigned in to 3 groups: Control (Aged rats), 6-OHDA-treated (8 mg/intrastiatal injection/twice at 6 hrs interval), 6-OHDA+CTE (400mg of Clitore ternatea extract, orally for 21 days). At the end of the experimental period, oxidative stress biomarkers such as LPO, nitric-oxide-synthase (NOS), HSP-70, poly(ADP-ribose)polymerase (PARP), xanthine-oxidase (XO), in addition to total-antioxidant-status (TAS), DNA content in the brain was examined.. Results: 6-OHDA-challenged rats elicited a significant increase in XO activity (p<0.01), NOS (p<0.01), LPO (p<0.01) and a significant decrease in TAS, HSP-70, PARP, DNA content (p<0.01) when compared with controls. CTE enriched with bioflavanoids attenuated the 6-OHDA-neurotoxicity evidenced by a significant reduction in LPO, XO and NOS (p<0.01) and a significant increase in TAS, HSP-70, PARP, DNA content (P<0.01).  Conclusions: These results suggest that decreased levels of the repairing enzyme PARP and HSP-70, and elevated levels of NOS, LPO and XO are markers of PD. Administration of CTE ameliorated 6-OHDA-induced neurotoxicity and related increment of DNA damage, thereby confirming the neuroprotective effects of Clitorea ternatea against PD.