Mimosa pudica up-regulates dat and th proteins expression, in turn, locomotor functions in mouse mptp-1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine model of parkinsonism

Abstract

Mimosa pudica is a traditional Siddha medicinal plant useful in the treatment of various neurological (vaatham) disorders. The main objective of the study is to demonstrate the neuroprotective effects of Mimosa pudica on against MPTP induced Parkinsonism in mice model. Male C57BL/6J mice (20-25 g bwt) were used for the study. Following acclimatisation the animals were divided into five groups with 6 in each. Group served as I negative control, Group II served as MPTP group, Group III as carbidopa 250 mg/kg IV & V as Mimosa pudica at 100 and 300 mg/kg, respectively. Animals were pretreated with vehicle or drugs (once a day) for five consecutive days. On day 5, one hour after vehicle or drug administration, MPTP was injected intraperitoneally at 80 mg/kg b.wt in two divided doses (2 X 40 mg/kg bwt. at 16 h interval). Forty eight hour after MPTP, animals were assessed for motor functions using horizontal grid test and vertical grid test. Then the animals were euthanised and brains were collected and processed for immunohistochemical analysis of dopamine transporter (DAT), tyrosine hydroxyalse (TH) and α-synuclein (α-syn) expressions. Mimosa pudica improved DAT and TH expressions.α-syn expression was significantly decreased in mimosa treated animals when compared to vehicle treated animals. The results indicate mimosa pudica is a potent neuro-protective agent against MPTP induced Parkinsonism.