Effect of Centella Asiatica Leaves Extract on Hippocampal Ca3 Neurons: a Morphological Study in Mice

Address for Correspondence: Dr. Hemamalini, Assistant Professor, Department of Anatomy, Jagadguru Sri Shivarathreeshwara Medical College, Mysore-570015, Karmataka, India. Phone number: +918762357259, Fax number: +91 821-2548345, 2493819 E-Mail: [email protected] Introduction: Centella asiatica is a perennial herbaceous creeper, growing in moist soil. It has anti-thrombotic, antibacterial and antiinflammatory properties. In Ayurvedic medicine, Centella asiatica is used extensively as brain tonic to enhance the neural function, learning and memory. In the present study, the neuroprotective role of Centella asiatica (CeA) leaves extract on hippocampal CA3 neurons against stress induced neurodegeneration in mice was investigated. Materials and Methods: Three months old albino mice were divided into four groups and treated as follows: (i) Normal control (NC) remained without any treatment, (ii) Saline control (SC) treated with saline, (iii) Stressed group (S) stressed in a wire mesh restrainer for 6 hours/day for 6 weeks, (iv) Stress + CeA treated group (S+CeA) stressed and treated orally with CeA leaves extract throughout the stress period (n=6 in all groups). At the end of the experimental period, mice in all groups were anesthetised, perfused transcardially with 50ml of saline followed by 100ml of 10% formalin. Brain was removed and processed for paraffin sections, sections were stained with cresyl violet stain. Number of neurons in the hippocampal CA3 region was counted in ten randomly selected fields (1000 μ2 area each). Results: Neurons in the hippocampal CA3 region, S group was found to be shrunken, irregular in shape with pyknotic nuclei compared to NC and SC groups. However such neurodegenerative changes were not seen in S+CeA group. Number of neurons in S group was significantly less compared to control groups and S+CeA group (P<0.001). Conclusion: Oral intubation of Centella asiatica leaves extract can protect the hippocampal CA3 neurons from degeneration in stressed mice.