Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Protective effect of Ficus religiosa (L.) against 3-nitropropionic acid induced Huntington disease

  • Research Article
  • Published:
Oriental Pharmacy and Experimental Medicine Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Huntington’s disease is a fatal neurodegenerative disorder, characterized by cognitive and motor dysfunction, abnormal energy metabolism, and mitochondrial dysfunction. 3 nitropropionic acid (3 NP) is a gold model used to induce Huntington’s disease in animals. Ficus religiosa is supposed to have effective neuroprotective role on oxidative stress and cognitive functions. The present study has been designed to demonstrate the neuroprotective role of ethyl acetate and ethanolic extract of Ficus religiosa leaves against 3 NP induced nerotoxicity in rats. Ethyl acetate and ethanolic extracts of Ficus religiosa were prepared by soxhaltion method and were administered (100, 200 and 400 mg/kg, p.o) for 14 days in 3 NP treated animals. 3 NP (30 mg/kg, i.p) was administered for 14 days systemically. Behavioral assessments were performed on 1st, 3rd, 7th, 10th and 14th day. Animals were sacrificed on 14th day for biochemical and histpathological estimation. This study indicated significant alteration in behavioral parameters (hypolocomotion, muscle incoordination and memory deficit), biochemical (increased lipid peroxidation, decreased catalase, superoxide dismutase and reduced glutathione), and increased neurochemical (increased acetylcholinesterase enzyme) in 3 NP treated animals. Higher dose of ethyl acetate and ethanolic extracts (400 mg/kg) of Ficus religiosa prevented behavioral, biochemical and neurochemical alterations compared to 3 NP treated rats. Lower doses (100 and 200 mg/kg) of both extracts per se did not show significant activity. The study thus proved that Ficus religiosa treatment protects the brain from oxidative stress and might be incorporated of this plant as prophylactic therapy for treatment of Huntington’s disease.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Aebi H (1984) Catalase in vitro. Methods Enzymol 105:121–126

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Aiyegoro OA, Okoh AI (2009) Use of bioactive plant products in combination with standard antibiotics: implications in antimicrobial chemotherapy. J Med Plant Res 3:1147–1152

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Akhtar MS, Iqbal Z, Khan MN, Lateef M (2000) Anthelmintic activity of medicinal plants with particular reference to their use in animals in the indo-Pakistan subcontinent. Small Rumin Res 38:99–107

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Beal MF, Brouillet E, Jenkins BG, Ferrante RJ, Kowall NW, Miller NW, Storey E, Srivastava R, Rosen BR, Hyman BT (1993) Neurochemical and histologic characterization of striatal excitotoxic lesions produced by the mitochondrial toxin 3- nitropropionic acid. J Neurosc 13:4181–4192

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Benchoua A, Trioulier YI, Zala D, Gaillard MC, Lefort N, Dufour N, Saudou F, Elalouf JM, Hirsch E, Hantraye P, Déglon N, Brouillet E (2006) Involvement of mitochondrial complex II defects in neuronal death produced by N-terminus fragment of mutated huntingtin. Mol Biol Cell 17:1652–1663

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Beyer WF, Fridovich I (1987) Assaying for superoxide dismutase activity: some large consequences of minor changes in conditions. Anal Biochem 161(2):559–566

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Borlongan CV, Koutouzis TK, Randall TS, Freeman TB, Cahill DW, Sanberg PR (1995) Systemic 3- nitropropionic acid, behavioral deficits and striatal damage in adult rats. Brain Res Bull 36:549–556

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Browne SE, Ferrante RJ, Beal MF (1999) Oxidative stress in Huntington's disease. Brain Pathol 9:147–163

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Chakraborty J, Nthenge-Ngumbau DN, Rajamma U, Mohanakumar KP (2014) Melatonin protects against behavioural dysfunctions and dendritic spine damage in 3-nitropropionic acid-induced rat model of Huntington’s disease. Behav Brain Res 264:91–104

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Cruz V, Santamaria A (2007) Integrative Hypothesis for Huntington’s disease: A Brief Review of Experimental Evidence Physiol Res 56:513–526

  • Devi WB, Sengottuvelan S, Haja SS, Lalitha V, Sivakumar T (2011) Memory enhancing activities of Ficus religiosa leaves in rodents. Int J Res Ayurveda Pharm 2(3):834–838

    Google Scholar 

  • Ellman GL, Courtney KD, Andres V, Featherstone RM (1961) A new and rapid colorimetric determination of acetylcholinesterase activity. Biochem Pharmacol 7:88–95

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Ghani A (1998) Medicinal plants of Bangladesh with chemical constituents and uses. Asiatic Society of Bangladesh, Dhaka, p. 236

    Google Scholar 

  • Hanna DM, Tadros MG, Khalifa AE (2015) ADIOL protects against 3-NP-induced neurotoxicity in rats: possible impact of its anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti-apoptotic actions. Prog Neuro-Psychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry 60:36–51

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Harborne JB (1998) Phytochemical methods, 3rd edn. Chapman and Hall, London, p. 26

    Google Scholar 

  • Hogg SA (1996) Review of the validity and variability of the elevated plus-maze as an animal model of anxiety. Pharmacol Biochem Behav 54:21–30

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Khan A, Jamwal S, Bijjem KR, Prakash A, Kumar P (2015) Neuroprotective effect of hemeoxygenase-1/glycogen synthase kinase-3β modulators in 3-nitropropionic acid-induced neurotoxicity in rats. Neuroscience 287:66–77

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kim GW, Copin JC, Kawase M, Chen SF, Sato S, Gobbel GT, Chan PH (2000) Excitotoxicity is required for induction of oxidative stress and apoptosis in mouse striatum by the mitochondrial toxin, 3-nitropropionic acid. J Cereb Blood Flow Metab 20(1):119–129

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kumar P, Kalonia H, Kumar A (2010) Huntington’s disease: pathogenesis to animal models. Pharmacol Rep 62(1):1–14

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kumar P, Kumar P, Khan A, Deshmukh R, Sharma PL (2014) Role of neurosteroids in experimental 3-nitropropionic acid induced neurotoxicity in rats. Eur J Pharmacol 723:38–45

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Malhotra CL, Das PK, Dhalla NS (1960) Parasympatholytic activity of Ficus religiosa Linn. Indian J Med Res 48:734–742

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • McGeer PL, McGeer EG, Fibiger HC (1973) Choline acetylase and glutamic acid decarboxylase in Huntington’s chorea. A preliminary study. Neurology 23(9):912–917

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Monk LS, Fagerstedt KV, Crawford RM (1989) Oxygen toxicity and superoxide dismutase as an antioxidant in physiological stress. Physiol Plant 76:456–459

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Nakamura S, Takahashi T, Yamashita H, Kawakami H (2001) Nicotinic acetylcholine receptors and neurodegenerative disease. Alcohol 24:79–81

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Nakao N, Grasbon-Frodi EM, Widner H, Brundin P (1996) Antioxidant treatment protects striatal neurons against excitotoxic insults. Neuroscience 73:185–200

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Nam E, Lee SM, Koh SE, Joo WS, Maeng S, Im HI, Kim YS (2005) Melatonin protects against neuronal damage induced by 3-nitropropionic acid in rat striatum. Brain Res 1046:90–96

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Ohkawa H (1979) Assay for lipid peroxides in animal tissues by thiobarbituric acid reaction. Anal Biochem 95(2):351–358

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Panda SK, Panda NC, Sahue BK (1976) Phytochemistry and pharmacological properties of Ficus religiosa: an overview. Indian Vet J 60:660–664

    Google Scholar 

  • Pandit R, Phadke A, Jagtap A (2010) Antidiabetic effect of Ficus religiosa extract in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. J Ethnopharmacol 128:462–466

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Patil MS, Patil CR, Patil SW, Jadhav RB (2011) Anticonvulsant activity of aqueous root extract of Ficus religiosa. J Ethanopharmacol 133:92–96

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pellow S, File SE (1986) Anxiolytic and anxiogenic drug effects on exploratory activity in an elevated plus-maze: a novel test of anxiety in the rat. Pharmacol Biochem Behav 24:525–529

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Prasad PV, Subhaktha PK, Narayana A, Rao MM (2006) Medico-historical study of "aśvattha" (sacred fig tree), bull. Indian Institute of History of Medicine (Hyderabad) 36:1–20

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Rahman S, Zhang J, Corrigal WA (2003) Effects of acute and chronic nicotine on somatodendritic dopamine release of the rat ventral tegmental area: in vivo microdialysis study. Neurosci Lett 348:61–64

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • RajaSankar S, Manivasagam T, Sankar V, Prakash S, Muthusamy R, Krishnamurti A, Surendran S (2009) Withania somnifera Root extract improves catecholamines and physiological abnormalities seen in a Parkinson’s disease model mouse. J Ethnopharmacol 125:369–373

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Ramaswamy S, McBride JL, Kordower JH (2007) Animal models of Huntington’s disease. ILAR J 48(4):356–373

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Ravichandran V, Suresh B, Sathishkumar MN, Elango K, Srinivasan R (2007) Antifertility activity of hydroalcoholic extract of Ailanthus excels (Roxb): an ehanomedicines used by tribals of Nilfiris region in Tamilnadu. J Ethnopharmacol 112:189

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Reddy DS, Kulkarni SK (1998) Possible role of nitric oxide in the nootropic and anti amnesic effects of neurosteroids on aging and dizocilpine induced learning impairment. Brain Res 799(2):215–219

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Rodgers RJ, Johnson NJT (1998) Behaviorally selective effects of neuroactive steroids on plus-maze anxiety in mice. Pharmacol Biochem Behav 59:221–232

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Roos RAC (2010) Huntington’s disease: a clinical review. Orphanet J Rare Dis 5:40

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Saha S, Goswami G (2010) Study of anti ulcer activity of Ficus religiosa L. On experimentally induced gastric ulcers in rats. Asian Pac J Trop Med 3(10):791–793

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Schulz JB, Matthews RT, Henshaw DR, Beal MF (1999) Neuroprotective strategies for treatment of lesions produced by mitochondrial toxins: implications for neurodegenerative diseases. Neuroscience 71:1043–1048

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Seaman RL (2000) Effects of acute systemic 3- nitropropionic acid administration on rat activity and acoustic startle. Neurosci Lett 280:183–186

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Singh D, Goel RK (2009) Anticonvulsant effect of Ficus religiosa: role of serotonergic pathways. J Ethnopharmacol 123(2):330–334

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Sirisha N, Sreenivasulu M, Sangeeta K, Chetty CM (2010) Antioxidant properties of Ficus species-a review. Int J PharmTech Res 3:2174–2182

    Google Scholar 

  • Srivastava SK, Beutler E (1968) Accurate measurement of oxidized glutathione content of human, rabbit, and rat red blood cells and tissues. Anal Biochem 25(1):70–76

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Túnez I, Tasset I, Pérez-De La Cruz V, Santamaría A (2010) 3-nitropropionic acid as a tool to study the mechanisms involved in Huntington’s disease: past, present and future. Molecules 15(2):878–916

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Uma B, Prabhakar K, Rajendran S (2009) In vitro antimicrobial activity and phytochemical analysis of Ficus religiosa L. And Ficus benghalensis L. Against Diarrhoeal Enterotoxigenic E. coli. Ethnobotanical Leaflets 13:472–474

    Google Scholar 

  • Vauzour D, Mateos AR, Corona G, Oruna-Concha MG, Spencer JPE (2010) Polyphenols and human health: prevention of disease and mechanisms of action. Nutrients 2:1106–1131

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Verma RS, Bhatia KS (1986) Chromatographic study of amino acids of the leaf protein concentrates of Ficus religiosa Linn and Mimusops elengi Linn. Indian Journal of Pharmacy Practice 23:231–232

    CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

We are thankful to Institute of Pharmacy, Nirma University, Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India for providing laboratory facilities.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Pharmacy, Nirma University, Ahmedabad, Gujarat, 382 481, India

    Jitendra O. Bhangale, Niyati S. Acharya & Sanjeev R. Acharya

Authors
  1. Jitendra O. Bhangale
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Niyati S. Acharya
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Sanjeev R. Acharya
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Jitendra O. Bhangale.

Ethics declarations

Ethical statement

The experimental protocols were approved by the Institutional Animal Ethics Committee, Institute of Pharmacy, Nirma University, Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India.

Conflict of Interest

The authors declare that there is no conflict of interests regarding the publication of this paper.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Bhangale, J.O., Acharya, N.S. & Acharya, S.R. Protective effect of Ficus religiosa (L.) against 3-nitropropionic acid induced Huntington disease. Orient Pharm Exp Med 16, 165–174 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13596-016-0237-7

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13596-016-0237-7

Keywords

Search

Navigation