Neuroprotective activity of Ethanolic Extract of Tinospora cordifolia on LPS induced Neuroinflammation

Abstract

Background: Neuroinflammation has been implicated in the pathogenesis or the progression of the variety of acute and chronic neurological and neurodegenerative disorders including Alzheimer’s disease. Aim: The present study is to investigate the ethanolic extract of Tinospora cordifolia on LPS induced behavioral alterations, oxidative stress and neuronal damage in rats. Methods: Adult male Wistar rats were divided into five groups six in each. Group I treated with normal saline (0.9% NaCl i.p.), group ii treated with normal saline + LPS (100 μg/kg i.p.), group iii treated with Aspirin (200 mg/kg) + LPS (100 μg/kg), Group IV treated with EETC (200 mg/kg) + LPS (100 μg/kg) and Group V treated with EETC (400 mg/kg) + LPS (100 μg/kg) for 14 days followed by single challenged of LPS to all the groups except control rats. On 15th day onwards, various behavioral assessment such as body weight, rectal temperature, locomotor activity, cognitive and memory assessment were carried out. Rats were sacrificed, and brain was isolated and estimated antioxidant levels (GSH, SOD, TBARS and CAT) and neuronal damage in the region of hippocampus were analyzed. Results: LPS treated rats significantly (P<0.001) decreased the body weight, locomotor activity, latency period in passive avoidance test and anti-oxidant levels in GSH, SOD and CAT and increased the rectal temperature and lipid peroxidase level (TBARS) compare to control rats. Pretreated with Aspirin 200 mg/kg rats and EETC (200 and 400 mg/kg) rats significantly attenuated the LPS induced behavioral alteration, oxidative damage and neuronal damage. Conclusion: The ethanolic extract of Tinospora cordifolia showed neuroprotective activity due to the presence of phytochemical constituents such as alkaloids, glycosides, diterpenoid lactones, berberine, flavonoids, saponins.