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Protective antioxidant effect of Centella asiatica bioflavonoids on lead acetate induced neurotoxicity
K Ponnusamy1, M Mohan, H S Nagaraja
1Department of Human Biology, International Medical University, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Insights
Centella asiatica extract (CAE) shows protective effects against lead-induced oxidative stress in the brain. This study investigated CAE
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Toxicology
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Lead (Pb) is a neurotoxic heavy metal, with children being especially vulnerable to its adverse effects.
- Chronic lead exposure is linked to cognitive impairments in children, partly due to oxidative stress in the central nervous system (CNS).
- Bioflavonoids, known for antioxidant and metal-chelating properties, are investigated for neuroprotective potential.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the antioxidant effects of Centella asiatica extract (CAE) as a pretreatment against lead acetate-induced oxidative damage in the mouse CNS.
- To explore the potential of Centella asiatica in mitigating lead's neurotoxic effects.
Main Methods:
- Mice were pretreated with Centella asiatica extract (CAE).
- Lead acetate was administered to induce oxidative stress in the CNS.
- Oxidative biomarkers in the central nervous system were measured to assess the protective effects of CAE.
Main Results:
- Pretreatment with CAE demonstrated a protective antioxidant effect against lead acetate-induced changes in CNS oxidative biomarkers.
- Centella asiatica extract mitigated the oxidative damage caused by lead exposure.
Conclusions:
- Centella asiatica extract exhibits significant neuroprotective properties against lead-induced oxidative stress.
- The findings suggest that Centella asiatica may be a potential therapeutic agent for mitigating lead neurotoxicity.
Abstract:
Lead (Pb) is a neurotoxic heavy metal and children in the developmental stage are particularly susceptible to toxic effects of lead exposure. The brain is the key organ involved in interpreting and responding to potential stressors. Epidemiological investigations have established the relationship between chronic lead exposure and cognitive impairments in young children. Excessive production of radical species plays an important role in neuronal pathology resulting from excitotoxic insults, therefore one plausible neuroprotective mechanism of bioflavonoids is partly relevant to their metal chelating and antioxidant properties. Centella asiatica (CA) is a tropical medicinal plant enriched with bioflavonoids and triterpenes and selenium, reported to rejuvenate the cells and promote physical and mental health. Bioflavonoids are claimed to be exert antimutagenic, neurotrophic and xenobiotics ameliorating and membrane molecular stabilizing effects. The objective of the present work is to study the protective antioxidant effect of pretreatment of CA extract (CAE) on lead acetate induced changes in oxidative biomarkers in the central nervous system (CNS) of mice.