Effect of Cymbopogon citratus (Lemon Grass) on acute anoxic stress in mice

Abstract

Research Article IJNR (2017) 1:4 Effect of Cymbopogon citratus (Lemon Grass) on acute anoxic stress in mice Exposure to acute anoxic stress produces deleterious effects on the brain through the formation of oxidant molecules like reactive oxygen species. Thus, compounds with antioxidant property might demonstrate protective effect against the damaging effects of anoxic stress on brain cells. This study was carried out to evaluate the protective effect of Cymbopogon citratus, a medicinal plant with antioxidant property on convulsions induced by anoxic stress in mice. Male Swiss mice (20-22 g) were given C. citratus (25, 50 and 100 mg/kg, p.o), Panax ginseng (50 mg/kg, p.o) or vehicle (10 mL/kg p.o). Thirty minutes later, the animals were exposed to anoxic stress and the latency (s) to convulsion (anoxic tolerance time) was measured. Thereafter, the blood glucose level was measured using glucometer. The levels of malondialdehyde (MDA) and glutathione (GSH) were also determined in the brain homogenates of mice subjected to anoxic stress. C. citratus (25, 50 and 100 mg/kg, p.o) did not significantly (p > 0.05) delay the latency to anoxic convulsion and also failed to alter the brain concentrations of MDA and GSH in mice exposed to anoxic stress. However, C. citratus (25, 50 and 100 mg/kg, p.o) caused a significant and dose-dependent reduction in the blood glucose levels in anoxic stressed mice. These findings suggest that C. citratus has neither protective effect against convulsive episodes nor alter oxidative stress parameters induced by acute anoxic stress in mice. The decrease in blood glucose produced by C. citratus in anoxic condition may be unconnected with normalization of deregulation of plasma glucose level during stress responses.