Jornal de Biomarcadores Moleculares e Diagnóstico

Protective Effect of Centella asiatica against Aluminium-Induced Neurotoxicity in Cerebral Cortex, Striatum, Hypothalamus and Hippocampus of Rat Brain- Histopathological, and Biochemical Approach

Abstract

Shaik Amjad and Syed Umesalma

Aluminum (Al) is a potent environmental neurotoxin, which is involved in the progression of neurodegenerative processes. Remarkable biological and medicinal properties of Centella asiatica (CA) are well known in last few decades. Therefore, the present study has been designed to explore the neuroprotective effect of CA on chronic aluminium chloride (AlCl3) exposure induced neurotoxicity in rat brain regions (cerebral cortex, striatum, hypothalamus and hippocampus). Wistar albino rats were segregated into four groups: group 1-control rats, group 2- rats received AlCl3 (300 mg/kg body weight, every day orally) for 60 days, rats in group 3-received CA (500 mg/kg body weight, orally) and group 4 rats were initiated with both AlCl3 and CA treatment. Administration of AlCl3 developed behavioral deficits, triggered lipid peroxidation (LPO), compromised acetylcholine esterase (AChE) activity, and reduced the levels of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), reduced glutathione (GSH) and glutathione-S-transferase (GST) and caused histologic aberrations. AlCl3–induced alterations in the activities of SOD, CAT, GSH and GST, levels of LPO, activity of AChE, behavioral deficits and histologic aberrations were attenuated on treatment with CA. Results of the study demonstrate neuroprotective potential of CA against AlCl3- induced oxidative damage and cognitive dysfunction.