No abstract

Objective: Swertia chirata and Swertia cordata have been used in traditional and folk medicines to treat several mental disorders. However, the mechanistic and experimental justification to its traditional use is lacking. The present study was aimed to investigate the neuromodulatory potential of S. chirata and S. cordata during hypoxia-induced neuronal damage in Wistar rats and to determine the underlying mechanism. Methods: Animals were divided into six groups (n=5). Hypoxia was inflicted by subjecting animals to the atmosphere having 10% O2 for 3 days. Animals were administered 100 mg/kg hydroalcoholic extract of S. chirata and S. cordata orally once daily for 7 days, after which motor coordination (Rotarod test) and memory functions (active avoidance test and passive avoidance test) were evaluated. Animals were sacrificed and biochemical investigations for oxidative stress and histopathology were performed. Results: Subjecting animals to hypoxia resulted in marked memory dysfunction, and extract treatments improved memory functions in active avoidance and passive avoidance task. Hypoxiainduced the marked oxidative stress as indicated by the significantly elevated reactive oxygen species and lipid peroxidation and depleted catalase and glutathione levels in the hippocampus. S. chirata and S. cordata treatment alleviated oxidative stress in the hippocampus region of the brain. Brain histopathology confirmed that hypoxia resulted in significant neuronal damage and extract treatment efficiently rescued neurons from hypoxic damage. Overall, S. chirata extract treatment was observed to have better neuromodulatory effect than S. cordata during hypoxia. Conclusion: Hypoxia induced memory dysfunction by inflicting neuronal damage and oxidative stress in the hippocampus region of the brain. The hydroalcoholic extract of S. chirata and S. cordata improved memory functions in hypoxic animals by alleviating hippocampal oxidative stress and by improving neuronal morphology and survival.

No abstract

No abstract

Objective: Swertia chirata has been used in traditional and folklore medicine to treat several ailments such as hepatic disorders. However, the mechanistic and experimental justification to its traditional use is lacking. The present study was aimed to investigate the hepatoprotective potential of S. chirata during hypoxia (HYP)-induced hepatic damage in Wistar rats and to determine the underlying mechanism.Methods: Hydroalcoholic extract of S. chirata was prepared using Soxhlet extraction. Animals were divided into six groups (n=5). Animals in the HYP groups were subjected to HYP for 3 days (10% O2) to induce oxidative stress and hepatic damage. 50 and 100 mg/kg extract treatments were provided orally once daily for 7 days after which animals were sacrificed, and biochemical investigations for oxidative stress, liver function tests, and hepatic histopathology were performed.Results: HYP-induced marked oxidative stress as indicated by the significantly elevated mitochondrial ROS generation, lipid peroxidation, glutathione, and depleted catalase levels. Liver function test indicated hepatic damage as the levels of serum glutamic-oxaloacetic transaminase, serum glutamic pyruvic transaminase, and aspartate transaminase were significantly elevated in HYP animals. S. chirata treatment alleviated oxidative stress and improved liver functions in a dose-dependent manner. Liver histopathology confirmed the marked hepatic damage induced by HYP and revealed that S. chirata efficiently rescued liver from hypoxic damage.Conclusion: Hydroalcoholic extract of S. chirata is a potent hepatoprotective intervention which was associated with its potential to alleviate oxidative stress and improve liver functions. Moreover, it could find clinical application as a safer and alternative remedy for liver ailments.