NEUROPROTECTIVE ACTIVITY OF SOLASODINE FROM SOLANUM XANTHOCARPUM FRUITS AGAINST CEREBRAL ISCHEMIA/REPERFUSION – INDUCED OXIDATIVE STRESS IN RAT

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: Traditional herb Solanum xanthocarpum contains solasodine as the chief constituent of fruits. Since analgesic, anti-inflammatory, anticonvulsant effects of fruits are reported; study was designed to rationalize the use of solasodine as neuro-protective with its mechanism of action. Aim of Study: Cerebrovascular Diseases (CVD) includes devastating disorders like ischemic stroke, hemorrhagic stroke, and cerebrovascular anomalies. Worldwide, around 15 million people suffer a stroke every year. With about 5 million deaths, stroke is the second most common cause of death and a major cause of long-term disability. This study was carried out to evaluate the neuroprotective activity of solasodine from Solanum xanthocarpum against global cerebral ischemia/reperfusion induced brain injury in rats. Materials and Methods: Neuroprotective activity was carried out by global cerebral ischemia on Wistar albino rats, distributed into 6 groups (n=8). Rats were subjected to bilateral common carotid artery (BCCA) occlusion for 30 min followed by 60 minutes reperfusion. The antioxidant enzymatic and non-enzymatic levels, cerebral infarction area, and histopathology were evaluated. Results: Solasodine showed dose-dependent neuroprotective activity by a significant decrease in lipid peroxidation (LPO) and increase in the superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione (GSH), and total thiol levels in solasodine (30 mg/kg and 60 mg/kg, i.p.) treated groups as compared to ischemia/reperfusion group. Moreover, cerebral infarction area and histopathology revealed protection against ischemic brain damage in solasodine treated groups. Conclusion: Solasodine showed potent neuro-protective activity against cerebral ischemia/reperfusion-induced brain injury in rats and may prove to be a useful adjunct in the treatment of stroke.