Therapeutic Effect of Bacopa monniera Against Aluminum Induced toxicity in Medulla Oblongata of Albino rat

Bacopa phospholipid complex retrieves aluminum maltolate complex-induced oxidative stress and apoptotic alterations in the brain regions of albino rat

Highly bioavailable plant phospholipid complex that can reverse aluminum maltolate (AlM)-induced toxicity is not yet reported. Hence, the present study was planned to investigate the impact of oxidative stress and apoptotic changes provoked by Al and ameliorative role of Bacopa phospholipid complex (BPC) in albino rats. The levels of antioxidant enzymes such as superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase activity (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), and thiobarbituric acid-reactive substance (TBA-RS) were measured and immunohistochemistry analysis of apoptotic markers, Bax and Bcl-2, was done from the four brain regions such as the hippocampus, cerebral cortex, cerebellum, and medulla oblongata. The levels of antioxidant enzymes and apoptotic markers that were decreased on AlM induction showed a significant increase in their levels, almost as observed in the control, when treated with BPC and Bm. Our results indicate that both BPC and Bm showed a therapeutic effect against AlM toxicity; however, it was found that the therapeutic potential of BPC was more pronounced than Bm against AlM-induced neurotoxicity.

Neuroprotective effect of Moringa oleifera leaf extract on aluminium-induced temporal cortical degeneration

Aluminium (Al), one of the metals implicated in neurodegeneration easily gain access to the nervous system through its presence in many manufactured foods, medicines and drinking water, and causes neurotoxicity utilizing the reactive oxygen specie pathway. The need to curtail these effects on the nervous system motivated the use of the plant Moringa oleifera (MO). This study thus, investigated the neuroprotective effects of MO leaf extract on aluminium-induced temporal cortical degeneration in rats. 24 male albino Wistar rats were grouped (n = 6) into control (1 ml/kg distilled water), l00 mg/kg aluminium chloride (AlCl₃), 300 mg/kg MO, and 100 mg/kg AlCl₃ and 300 mg/kg MO groups. The administration lasted for 28 days and the rats were sacrificed on day 29 by perfusion-fixation after blood was obtained for serum Al estimation. The brain tissues were then routinely processed for some histological and immunnolabelling studies. There was no significant difference in serum Al in the test groups. Histological results showed atrophied and karyorrhetic cells with loss of Nissl substance in the temporal cortex of the AlCl₃ group, while no adverse effect was observed in the cytoarchitecture of the temporal cortex and Nissl substance of the MO group. However, groups which were administered AlCl₃ simultaneously with MO extract showed less degenerative features in the cyto-architecture of the temporal cortex with normal Nissl substance staining. There was increased neuron specific enolase (NSE) and glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) expressions in the AlCl₃ group, while the MO group also showed increased NSE but decreased GFAP expression. However, the group which were administered AlCl₃ simultaneously with MO extract showed less expression of NSE and GFAP. In conclusion, MO protects against Al-induced neurotoxicity of the temporal cortex of rats.

In vitro cultures of Bacopa monnieri and an analysis of selected groups of biologically active metabolites in their biomass

CONTEXT

Bacopa monnieri L. Pennell (Scrophulariaceae) is one of the most important plants in the system of Indian medicine (Ayurveda).

OBJECTIVE

This paper studies the optimal growth of B. monnieri for effective accumulation of metabolites. Biomass growth of this plant could be accomplished in liquid cultures on Murashige & Skoog medium.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Powdered shoots of in vitro cultures of B. monnieri were extracted by methanol for indole compounds, phenolic compounds and bacosides for RP-HPLC analysis. Fatty acid analysis was performed via gas chromatography. Anti-inflammatory effect of B. monnieri extracts was evaluated in the A549 cells. COX-2 and cPGES expression was analyzed using Western blots.

RESULTS

l-Tryptophan and serotonin were found in biomass from in vitro cultures of B. monnieri on MS medium and in biomass from the MS mediums enriched with the different additions such as of 0.1 g/L magnesium sulphate, 0.1 g/L zinc hydroaspartate, 0.1 g/L l-tryptophan, 0.25 g/L serine, 0.5 g/L serine and 0.5 mg/L anthranilic acid. The content of l-tryptophan and serotonin compounds was significant in biomass from medium with the addition of 0.1 g/L zinc hydroaspartate (0.72 mg/g dry weight and 1.19, respectively). Phenolic compounds identified in biomass from the same variants of MS medium were chlorogenic acid (ranging from 0.20 to 0.70 mg/g dry weight), neochlorogenic acid (ranging from 0.11 to 0.40 mg/g dry weight) and caffeic acid (ranging from 0.01 to 0.04 mg/g dry weight). The main group of fatty acids in biomass was saturated fatty acids (53.4%). The predominant fatty acid was palmitic acid. A significant decrease of COX-2 and cPGES expression was observed in the A549 cells activated with LPS and treated with B. monnieri extracts.

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS

As far as we know, this is the first analysis of indole compounds and phenolic acids in this plant. The multi-therapeutic effect of B. monnieri is expressed by the activity of bacosides. Information about the presence of indole and phenolic compounds, and fatty acids in this plant is limited, but the content of these compounds might participate in the physiological activity of B. monnieri.

Development of optimal medium content for bioelements accumulation in Bacopa monnieri (L.) in vitro culture

Bacopa monnieri is one of the most interesting plants from the Ayurveda system. The aims of present research were, basing on in vitro shoot culture of B. monnieri, to determine content and to evaluate the influence of physiologically important metabolites on the selected bioelements accumulation in biomass. The most significant increase in biomass production was observed in the culture medium enriched with 0.5 mg/L of anthranilic acid. In this medium also, the highest accumulation of Mg was noted. The highest concentration of iron was determined in B. monnieri in vitro culture enriched with 0.25 g/L of serine. The addition of l-tryptophan, magnesium sulfate, and zinc hydroaspartate caused only a small increase in the accumulation of copper in B. monnieri. Increase in Zn accumulation was obtained in biomass from in vitro culture of B. monnieri with the addition of magnesium sulfate and zinc hydroaspartate. In the case of Na, the maximum level of this element was in biomass from medium enriched with zinc hydroaspartate. Twofold increase in K concentration was obtained in biomass from cultures on medium with addition of serine and magnesium sulfate. The concentrations of Ca in biomass of all studied media were at the similar level.