NEUROCHEMICAL MODULATION BY BACOPA MONNIERI IN ROTENONE INDUCED HEMI-PARKINSON’S DISEASE

Abstract

Parkinson’s disease is the second most common neuro-degenerative disorder. Treatment with L-DOPA improves the motor symptoms, but lead to dyskinesia. The herbal extract of Bacopa monnieri is used as a cognitive enhancer in ayurvedic system of medicine. The efficacy of saponin rich extract of Bacopa monnieri in the treatment of Parkinson’s disease is evaluated in the present study. The changes in the brain levels of monoamine neurotransmitters and their metabolites were analyzed by HPLC technique. The levels of dopamine, levodopa, 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid, homovallic acid and serotonin were decreased and norepinephrine was increased incredibly in the midbrain and striatum of PD induced animals. On treatment with Bacopa monnieri whole plant extract the animals exhibited a marked increase in the level of dopamine and its metabolites and a decrease in norepinephrine. A trivial increase in the level of epinephrine was observed on PD induction which improved on Bacopa treatment. This clearly indicates the neuroprotection imparted by Bacopa monnieri in rotenone induced Parkinson’s disease.