Abstract

The neurodegenerative diseases are characterized by the depletion of neuronal physiology and death as a virtue of potential oxidative stress. Parkinson’s disease is a one of the debilitating neurodegenerative disease wherein the depletion of dopaminergic neurons results mainly in motor dysfunction. The present study was focused to study the neuroprotective effect of ethanolic extract of Portulaca quadrifida L. (Portulacaceae) against Parkinson’s like symptoms. The experimental designs included were rotenoneinduced locomotor impairment in Drosophila model and haloperidol-induced catalepsy in rat model; both resembling the motor dysfunction observed clinically in Parkinson’s disease. The behavioral parameters were evaluated. Additionally the biochemical parameters of oxidative stress markers were evaluated in haloperidol-induced catalepsy in rat model. The locomotor behavior of rotenone-exposed Drosophila was improved significantly (p<0.05) when treated with 1 and 2 mg/ml doses of ethanolic extract of Portulaca quadrifida. The behavioral response of the catalepsy induced experimental rats (disease control group) was significantly (p<0.05) lower than that of vehicle control and standard control group. The co-exposed rats with haloperidol showed marked improvement at doses 100 and 200 mg/kg body weight of ethanolic extract of Portulaca quadrifida. The significant improvement in biochemical parameters further confirmed the antioxidant efficacy of ethanolic extract of Portulaca quadrifida. The standard drug used was Zandu Zandopa powder. Thus the study reveals that the ethanolic extract of Portulaca quadrifida imparts neuroprotective effect against motor dysfunction and hence has the potential to be used in the treatment of Parkinson’s disease.