Putative Roles of Ocimum Gratismum in Paraquat-Altered Motor and Cognitive Behaviors of Male Wistar Rats.

Abstract:

Neurodegenerative diseases (NDs) are due to progressive loss of neurons, leading to a decline in motor and cognitive functions, memory, and learning. This study investigated the role of Ocimum gratissimum (Og) in paraquat-altered motor and cognitive abilities. 35 Wistar rats were assigned to five groups of 7 rats after 14 days of acclimatization. Group A was the control, Groups B, C, D, and E were exposed to 12 mg/kg of Paraquat (PQ) for 14 days; thereafter, Groups C, D, and E were treated with 200, 400, and 600 mg/kg, respectively. All administrations were oral and the treatment with Og lasted 14 days. There was a reduced number of lines crossed in Group B and a significant increase in lines in Groups C and D (p<0.05). The time spent close to the wall significantly increased in Group B (p<0.05) but decreased in the treated Groups (p<0.05). In Group B, rearing time increased (p<0.05), while grooming and stretching time decreased (p<0.05). The discrimination index increased significantly in Group B, while it decreased in the treated Groups (p<0.05). High-density lipoprotein (HDL) decreased (p<0.05) in Group B, and increased significantly in the treated Groups. Superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) were reduced in Group B and increased significantly in the treated Groups, while Malondialdehyde increased (p<0.05) in Group B, and significantly decreased in the treated groups. Alterations ranging from necrosis, hemorrhage, pyknosis, and layer separations were seen in the Group B section. Og is a good antioxidant that can ameliorate paraquat toxicity.