Puerarin Ameliorates 3-Nitropropionic Acid-Induced Neurotoxicity in Rats: Possible Neuromodulation and Antioxidant Mechanisms

Abstract

Puerarin (daidzein-8-C-glucoside), a major isoflavone glycoside purified from Pueraria lobata, is well reported to have a neuroprotective effect primarily by the antioxidant mechanisms. This investigation was designed to evaluate the efficacy of Puerarin (Pur) to offset 3-nitropropionic acid (3-NP) induced neurotoxicity. Male Wistar strain rats were given 3-NP (20 mg/kg, s.c.) over five consecutive days, whereas Pur (200 mg/kg, i.p.) was administrated 30 min before 3-NP. Rats treated with 3-NP exhibited significant weight loss, reduction of the prepulse inhibition, locomotor hypoactivity and hypothermia. The striata, hippocampi and cortices of the 3-NP treated rats showed abnormal levels of neurotransmitters, oxidative damage and characteristic histopathological lesions. Treatment with Pur ahead of 3-NP, significantly prevented weight loss, PPI deficit, locomotor hypoactivity and hypothermia. Pur treatment blocked the 3-NP-induced neurotransmitters abnormalities (GABA, DA, 5-HT and NE), and normalized the oxidative stress biomarkers (lipid peroxidation, reduced glutathione, glutathione peroxidase). Histopathological examination further affirmed Pur's neuroprotective effect against 3-NP-induced neurotoxicity. In conclusion, Pur protected the brain tissues from 3-NP induced neurotoxicity primarily by its neuromodulation and antioxidant effect.

Neuroprotective Efficacy of A Combination of Fish Oil and Bacopa Monnieri Against 3-Nitropropionic Acid Induced Oxidative Stress in Rats

“…In the present model, NPA administration significantly induced oxidative markers in both cytosolic and mitochondrial fractions of cerebellum and striatum. These results are in agreement with previous findings among NPA models of neurotoxicity [12,47,48] . Increased oxidative stress is one of the major deleterious events in both clinical and experimentally induced HD.…”

Therapeutic potential of glutathione-enhancers in stress-related psychopathologies

“…Moreover, puerarin treatment in PC12 cells resulted in higher Nrf2 nuclear translocation following lead exposure, at a concentration of 30 μΜ, while it simultaneously increased GSH levels (Li, Pan et al 2014). In vivo, puerarin treatment (200 mg/kg ip, before 3-NP treatment for five consecutive days) rescued the 3-NP-induced impairments on prepulse inhibition, locomotion and reduced neurotransmitter and GSH levels, in Wistar rats (Mahdy, Mohamed et al 2014). In conclusion, even though puerarin has not been studied extensively in the context of neuroprotection and neuromodulation, results so far indicate that it may be a potentially interesting compound.…”

[Retracted] Screening and Identification of Antidepressant Active Ingredients from Puerariae Radix Extract and Study on Its Mechanism

“…It was revealed that after 14 days of continuous administration of isoflavone pueraria which extracted from Puerariae Radix , the fixed time of FST and TST was significantly shortened, and the serotonin-induced mouse convulsions/head flicking behavior was significantly enhanced in a dose-dependent manner. Puerarin isoflavones also have obvious antagonistic effects on resuscitation-induced eyelid atrophy, dyskinesia, and hypothermia [ 19 ].…”