Pepper (<i>C. annuum</i> Linn) extract ameliorates alterations to neuronal cholinergic and purinergic enzyme activities in rotenone-intoxicated rat model of Parkinson's Disease

Abstract

The study evaluated the cognitive enhancing properties of the ethylacetate fraction of pepper, Capsicum annuum, in rotenone-intoxicated rat model of Parkinson's disease. Rats were divided into seven groups comprising normal rats, rat model of Parkinson's disease (PD) induced with intraperitoneal injection of rotenone (2 mg/kg), rotenone-intoxicated rats treated with 50, 100, 200 mg/kg/day of ethyl acetate fraction of C. annuum; rotenone-intoxicated rats treated with levodopa, and rotenone-intoxicated rats treated with levodopa plus 100 mg/kg C. annuum extract for 25 days. Subsequently, the spatial memory index of the rats was assessed in a Y-maze test. Thereafter, the activities of acetylcholinesterase, adenosine triphosphate diphosphohydrolase (ATPdase) and ecto-5'-nucleotidase were assayed in the rat brain homogenate. Results showed that there was a significant reduction in memory index and elevation in the activities of acetylcholinesterase, ATPDase and ecto-5'-nucleotidase in rotenone-intoxicated rats, which were significantly ameliorated in rotenone-intoxicated rats co-treated with ethyl acetate fraction of C. annuum in a dosedependent manner. Hence, it can be inferred from this study that ethyl acetate fraction of C. annuum exhibited protective properties against rotenone-induced model of Parkinson's disease in rats and could be a source of neuroprotective compounds.

Keywords: Rotenone, Capsicum annuum, Acetylcholinesterase, Cognitive enhancement