The Ayurvedic drug, Ksheerabala, ameliorates quinolinic acid-induced oxidative stress in rat brain

Abstract

One of the mechanisms of neurotoxicity is the induction of oxidative stress. There is hardly any cure for neurotoxicity in modern medicine, whereas many drugs in Ayurveda possess neuroprotective effects; however, there is no scientific validation for these drugs. Ksheerabala is an ayurvedic drug which is used to treat central nervous system disorders, arthritis, and insomnia. The aim of our study was to evaluate the effect of Ksheerabala on quinolinic acid-induced toxicity in rat brain. The optimal dose of Ksheerabala was found from a dose escalation study, wherein it was found that Ksheerabala showed maximum protection against quinolinic acid-induced neurotoxicity at a dose of 15 microL/100 g body weight/day, which was selected for further experiments. Four groups of female albino rats were maintained for 21 days as follows: 1. Control group, 2. Quinolinic acid (55 microg/100 g body weight), 3. Ksheerabala (15 microL/100 g body weight), 4. Ksheerabala (15 microL/100 g body weight) + Quinolinic acid (55 microg/100 g body weight). At the end of the experimental period, levels of lipid peroxidation products, protein carbonyls, and activities of scavenging enzymes were analyzed. The results revealed that quinolinic acid intake caused enhanced lipid and protein peroxidation as evidenced by increased levels of peroxidation products such as malondialdehyde, hydroperoxide, conjugated dienes, and protein carbonyls. On the other hand, the activities of scavenging enzymes such as catalase, superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase, and glutathione reductase as well as the concentration of glutathione were reduced. On coadminstration of Ksheerabala along with quinolinic acid, the levels of all the biochemical parameters were restored to near-normal levels, indicating the protective effect of the drug. These results were reinforced by histopathological studies.

Keywords: Histopathology; Ksheerabala; lipid peroxidation; oxidative stress; quinolinic acid; scavenging enzymes.

Figure 1

Light microscopic appearance of brain sections obtained using H and E. Microphotograph of brain of the control group; original magnification (× 40). This slide shows the structure of a normal brain; each nerve cell has a distinct nucleus surrounded by cytoplasm.

Figure 2

Light microscopic appearance of brain sections obtained using H and E. Microphotograph of brain of the Ksheerabala group; original magnification (× 40); the cells were almost similar to that of the control

Figure 3

Light microscopic appearance of brain sections obtained using H and E. Microphotograph of brain of the quinolinic acid group; original magnification (× 40). Nerve cells of this slide have undergone degeneration; increased vacuolization can also be observed

Figure 4

Light microscopic appearance of brain sections obtained using H and E. Microphotograph of brain of the Ksheerabala + quinolinic acid group; original magnification (× 40); the cells were almost normal