Biomedical Research

Present investigation evaluates the neuroprotective effect of Aster tataricus (AT) in PTZ induced epileptic rats and thereby improves the cognitive functions. Epilepsy was induced by ip injection of Pentylenetetrazol (PTZ) for the duration of 36 days. All the rats were pretreated with AT (100 and 200 mg/kg, p.o.) for 24 days and thereafter injections of PTZ was started to till the end of protocol. Effect of AT on epileptic behavior was estimated by observing the frequency and stage of seizer and cognitive function by Morris Water Maze (MWM). Effect of AT on oxidative stress, cytokines and level of neurochemicals such as dopamine and 5 hydroxy tryptamine (5HT) in the brain tissues were estimated at the end of protocol. Moreover histopathology study was done for the estimation of surviving neurons. There were significant (p<0.01) decrease in the frequency and stage of epilepsy and improves the cognitive function in AT treated rats compared to PTZ induced epileptic rats. It was also observed that treatment with AT significantly increases the dopamine and 5HT level and decreases the oxidative stress and cytokine in the brain tissues of PTZ induced epileptic rats compared to negative control group. Moreover the histopathology study suggested that AT restores the cellular structure and improves number of surviving cells. Thus present study concludes the neuroprotective effect of Aster tataricus in chronic epilepsy and thereby restores the cognitive functions.

Author(s): Bei-lei Hu, Wei-chen Hou, Xiao-ping Li, Lian-jun Ma, Xiao-xue Bai, Qun Liu, Bao-hua Liu
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