Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a serious chronic and progressive neurological disorder. Hypericum perforatum (H. perforatum) is a plant generally used as an antidepressant and therapy for many neurodegenerative disorders. The present study evaluates the action of Hypericum perforatum extract on MPTP induced oxidative stress and ultrastructural changes in the Parkinson disease model. For this research study, Parkinson disease in mice were induced using MPTP and Hypericum perforatum methanolic extract were given in the pre-treatment and post-treatment condition. After the treatment, the oxidative stress was measured using TBARS levels and the activities of GSH, GPx, CAT and SOD in brain tissues. The ultrastructural changes in brain mitochondria caused by MPTP toxicity was studied after Hypericum perforatum extract therapy using TEM images. The present study showed that HPE extract is able to balance the oxidative stress and antioxidants in the brain tissue of MPTP administered rats. The damaged nuclei in the brain recovered to the normal condition due to this extract therapy. Finally, to conclude, Hypericum perforatum extract post-treatment offers potential brain protection against MPTP-induced Parkinson’s disease than pre-treatment.
Parkinson's disease (PD) is a common neurodegenerative movement disease affecting a large number of people worldwide. In animals, the intracranial or systemical application of the neurotoxin 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1, 2, 3, 6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) can result in severe injury to the nigrostriatal dopaminergic system. Hypericum perforatum is a plant generally used as an antidepressant that also has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. Hypericum perforatum has been used to lessen the mild to moderate symptoms of depression. The present study was done to find the effect of Hypericum perforatum methanolic extract pretreatment and post-treatment on behavioral studies in MPTP induced Parkinson’s disease model. The behavioral assessments were performed with a forced swim test, pole test, tail suspension test, and catalepsy test. Hypericum perforatum extract ameliorated depressive-like behavior better in post-treatment as compared with pretreatment group in MPTP model of Parkinson's disease. It can be said that Hypericum perforatum methanolic extract might be a therapeutic agent for the treatment of PD, but further clinical studies are required.
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