Abstract:

Huntingtons disease (HD) is an autosomal dominant neurodegenerative disease. Accordingly, 3-nitropropionic acid (3-NP) has been found to effectively produce HD-like symptoms. Amaranthus viridis Linn (HAEAV), popularly known in Chauraiya in Hindi, may act as a neuroprotective agent in vitro andin vivo. We evaluated the hypothesis that the hydro-ethanolic extract of Amaranthus viridis Linn could prevent behavioral and oxidative alterations induced by 3-NP in rats. 30 albino Wistar female rats were divided into 5 groups: (1) control, (2) HAEAV(400 mg/kg), (3) 3-NP, (4) HAEAV(200 mg/kg) + 3-NP, and (5) HAEAV(400 mg/kg) + 3-NP.Animals in groups 3, 4, and 5 received 15 mg/kg 3-NP daily from days 8–14. At day 14, parameters of locomotor activity and biochemical evaluations were performed. Indeed, rats treated with 3-NP showed decreased locomotor activity compared to controls. Additionally, 3-NP increased levels of reactive oxygen species and lipid peroxidation and decreased ratio of CAT, TT, and GSHactivityinbrain tissues. Our results suggest that rats pretreated with HAEAVprior to 3-NP treatment showed neuroprotective effects when compared to 3-NP treated controls, which may be due to its antioxidant properties.

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