Anti-oxidative and anti-apoptotic neuroprotective effects of azadirachta indica in Parkinson-induced functional damage

Abstract

Azadirachta indica has previously been demonstrated to act as a multi-functional medicinal plant for >2,000 years in India, and its neighboring countries. Currently, it is considered a natural resource with great value used in industrial product development and as a medicine for various types of diseases. The present study investigated the neuroprotective effects of Azadirachta indica which improved functional recovery in the 6-hydroxydopamine induced rat Parkinson's disease (PD) model. Catalase, glutathione-peroxidase, tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, nuclear factor (NF)-κB p65, inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and AChE activity levels were analyzed via ELISA. Western blotting was used to analyze B cell lymphoma-2 associated X protein (Bax), cytochrome c and p53 protein expression. Treatment with Azadirachta indica significantly decreased the PD-induced rotational behavior in rats. PD-induced catalase, glutathione-peroxidase, iNOS activity and iNOS protein expression were significantly suppressed by treatment with Azadirachta indica. Inflammatory factors, acetylcholinesterase activity and cyclo-oxygenase-2 protein expression levels were additionally significantly suppressed by treatment with Azadirachta indica. The protein expression levels of Bax, cytochrome c and p53 were decreased and caspase-3 and caspase-9 activities diminished, with treatment with Azadirachta indica. Therefore, Azadirachta indica was demonstrated to exhibit neuroprotective antioxidative and anti-apoptotic effects in Parkinson's disease.