Objective: The present study examined the potential neuroprotective and neurotrophic efficacy of GBE against 3-nitropropionic acid (3-NP)-induced oxidative stress in a rat model of HD and explored the mechanisms of action.

Background: Huntington’s disease (HD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder. Ginkgo biloba extracts (GBE), a phytoestrogen, has been widely used for treating coronary heart disease and neurological disease in clinical settings and demonstrated beneficial effects at biochemical and pharmacological levels.

Method: 60 Male SD  rats were pretreated with GBE (25 and 50 mg/kg b.w.) orally prior to the intraperitoneally (i.p.) administration of 3-NP (12 mg/kg b.w.) for 15 days. Nimodipine (12 mg/kg, po)  was used as positive control drugs. The body weight , grip strength and behavior were monitored within  5th, 10th and 15th day after 3-NP treatment. Then the animals were sacrificed, neuronal damage in striatum was estimated using Nissl staining. Hsp70 expression was detected with immunohistochemistry. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation was measured using dihydroethidium (DHE) staining. Memory (Morris water maze) , antioxidants enzymes, acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity, cycloxygenase-2 (COX-2) and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) expression  were analyzed in rat model of HD .

Results: Present results shown that administration of 3-NP resulted in a marked reduction in the body weight, memory, grip strength  locomotion activity and significantly increased oxidative stress, AChE activity, COX-2 and inducible iNOS expression. GBE   (25 and 50 mg/kg) treated animals exhibited a significant improvement in behavioural, biochemical, histological alterations and oxidative stress parameters in comparison to only 3-NP treated animals. Present results shown dose-dependently improved 3-NP-induced behavioral, biochemical, and enzymatic changes.  Similar effects were obtained with the positive control drugs nimodipine.

Conclusion: This study suggests neuroprotective, neurotrophic and memory enhancing effects for GBE in a rat model of HD. These effects might be attributed to its antiaging, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities.

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MDS Abstracts - https://www.mdsabstracts.org/abstract/neuroprotective-and-neurotrophic-efficacy-of-ginkgo-biloba-extracts-against-3-nitropropionic-acid-induced-oxidative-stress-in-a-rat-model-of-huntingtons-disease/