Shinomol George K and Muralidhara
ABSTRACT
Previously we demonstrated the prophylactic neuromodulatory effects of Centellaasiatica (CA), an extensivelyused medicinal plant in Ayurvedafor various ailments. The primary objective of this investigation was to examine its efficacy to ameliorate Khesari dhal (KD) -induced oxidative impairments in various brain regions of young mice. Neurolathyrism is a neurodegenerative disease caused by consumption of KD, containing a neurotoxin β-ODAP which causes inhibition of mitochondrial complex I and induces oxidative stress (OS)in brain. Mice were assigned to four groups (n=6). Group I: normal diet, group II: CA (1%) incorporated diet, group III:Khesari dhal (30%) incorporated diet and group IV:KD (30%) incorporated diet supplemented with CA (1%) for 30 days. Significant protection was observed against the KD –induced increase in ROS,hydroperoxide formation, MDA and protein carbonyls levels in cytosol of various brain regions of mice fed CA-enriched diet.Further, feeding KD in diet resulted in significantly enhanced antioxidant enzyme activities (GPx, GST and SOD) with concomitant decrease in GSH and TSH levelsincytosol of brain regions.Such alterations in activities were restored to normalcy among mice provided with CA-enriched diet.Taken together, this dietary study, clearly demonstrates the protective propensity of CA leaf powder against KD induced brain OSand related alterations in young adult mice and suggests its utility value as an adjuvant under OS mediated neuronal dysfunctions.