NEUROPROTECTIVE EFFECT OF LEUCAS ASPERA IN STREPTOZOTOCIN INDUCED ALZHEIMER RAT MODEL

The present investigation deals with the assessment of neuroprotective effect Leucas aspera in streptozotocin (STZ) induced Alzheimer’s disease (AD) in rats. AD was induced by administering STZ (3 mg/kg, ICV) on day one and 3^rd day after surgery. Surgery was performed on anesthetized rats with the help of the stereotaxic apparatus. STZ induced AD rats were treated with ethanolic extract of Leucas aspera (100, 200, and 400 mg/kg, p.o.) for 28 days. Effect of Leucas aspera root in AD rats was assessed by estimating the alteration in the behavior (Y maze apparatus and single trail passive avoidance) and biochemical parameter in the brain tissue {Oxidative stress parameters (SOD, CAT, and LPO), amyloid β peptide (Aβ) and acetylcholinesterase (AchE). Treatment with Leucas aspera shows significant (P<0.01) increased in the % of alteration in the behavior and step-through latency in Y maze task and single-trial passive avoidance test compared to AD rats. Leucas aspera significantly (P<0.01) decreases the AchE in the brain tissue compared to AD rats, whereas treatment with Leucas aspera significantly reduces the oxidative stress level in AD rats. The present study concludes the neuroprotective effect of Leucas aspera extract in AD rats by reducing oxidative stress and AchE in the brain tissue.