OXIDATIVE STRESS INDUCED ALTERATION OF PROTEIN AND NUCLEIC ACID METABOLISM IN FLUORIDE-INTOXICATED RAT BRAIN: PROTECTION BY 3α-HYDROXY OLEAN-12-EN-27-OIC ACID ISOLATED FROM NEANOTIS WIGHTIANA

Increased production of reactive oxygen species plays important role in pathogenesis of chronic fluoride toxicity resulting from prolonged exposure to fluoride. Oral (NaF) fluoride administration to rats at 20 mg/kg b.w./day for 30 days resulted in elevation in MDA, free amino acid N₂, NO level and decreased activities of SOD, GPx, CAT, GR and reduced non enzymatic antioxidant like GSH. Significant alteration in protein and nucleic acid metabolism in discrete brain regions was observed associated with altered activities of proteolytic and transaminase enzymes in treated animals. Neanotis wightiana is traditionally used by local people of Tripura for brain and liver disorders. 3α-hydroxy olean-12-en-27-oic acid isolated from the plant was administered to rats at a dose of 5 mg/kg b.w./day orally for the last 14 days of fluoride exposure in order to elucidate the antioxidative role of this triterpenoid compound in brain protein and nucleic acid metabolism during toxic insult. The present study indicates that the compound appreciably prevented NaF-induced changes in above mentioned parameters in rat brain by antagonizing the free radical generation and enhancing the antioxidant defence power of brain tissue.