¹Department of Pharmacology, JKKMMRF Annai Sampoorani Ammal College of Pharmacy, Komarapalayam-638183, Nammakkal District, Tamil Nadu, India
²Department of Pharmacology, Sri Ramachandra Faculty of Pharmacy, Sri Ramachandra Institute of Higher Education and Research (DU), Porur, Chennai - 600116, India DOI : 10.29228/jrp.747 This study was designed to investigate the effect of ethanolic extract of Barleria prionitis leaf in Lipopolysaccharide induced neurodegeneration. Neurodenegeration was induced by administering Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) (1 mg/kg/i.p.) in a Sprague Dawley rat model. Ethanolic extract of Barleria prionitis leaf (EEBPL) at a dose of 200 and 400 mg/kg was given orally to desired group of animals for a period of 14 days. After 14 days of drug treatment, parameters such as in vitro anticholinesterase activity, DPPH Radical Scavenging activity, behavioural test for memory and learning (Elevated plus maze test, Open field test), Acetylcholine (ACh) content, Acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity, Superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity in brain homogenate were analysed. EEBPL at both doses, i.e., 200 and 400mg/kg, decreased the Acetylcholinesterase level in neurodegenerated rats. The EEBPL (400 mg/kg/p.o) had more pronounced effect on memory and learning which is supported by the results of improvement in the body weight and decreased transfer latency time of neurodegenerated animals in elevated plus maze test. Acetylcholine was found to be decreased in untreated neurodegenerated rats due to neuronal inflammation. The EEBPL (400 mg/kg) doses significantly (P<0.001) increased the SOD activity in neurodegenerated rats. Modulation of acetylcholine level by the EEBPL is related with its potential anti-oxidant and cholinesterase inhibitory activity. Further studies are needed to carry out the isolation of active constituents responsible for the activity. Keywords : Acetylcholinesterase; Barleria prionitis; superoxide dismutase (SOD); neurodegeneration; Alzheimer’s disease