Evaluation of anti-Parkinson’s activity of Uncaria rhynchophylla in 6-hydroxy dopamine lesioned rat model

The present study was designed to evaluate the possible Anti-Parkinson’s activity of aqueous extract of hooks with stem of Uncaria rhynchophylla which is showing monoamine oxidase-B (MAO-B) inhibition and anti-oxidant activity. On zero day wistar rats were treated with 6-hydroxy dopamine (2μg/μl) intra nigrally. After 48 hrs of induction, aqueous extract of Uncaria rhynchophylla (200 mg/kg/day, p.o.) was given to the treatment groups for 60 days and levodopa (6mg/kg) was used as the standard drug. The possible pharmacological actions of the drug was evaluated by grip strength test, striatal dopamine (DA) levels, mitochondrial complex-I activity and glutathion level. The results revealed that the treatment of Uncaria rhynchophylla aqueous extract significantly protected the dopaminergic neurons when compared with 6-OHDA control group. So, it is concluded that Uncaria rhynchophylla aqueous extract can exert a major neuroprotective effect and can be a future drug of choice for the treatment of clinical Parkinsonism.