Alterations of Cholinergic Neurotransmission in Rotenone Induced Parkinson’s Disease: Protective Role of Bacopa Monnieri

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is the second most common neurodegenerative disorder. Dopaminergic anti-parkinsonian medications, cause drug-induced development of disabling motor complications in majority of patients with PD. Bacopa monnieri (BM), an Indian herb extensively used in Ayurveda, was tested on cholinergic system in Rotenone (RT) induced rat model of PD. Cholinergic system is affected due to imbalance between Acetylcholine (ACh) and Dopamine (DA) neurotransmitters. In the experiment conducted rats were divided into four groups of six in each group, group 1 received Saline water (1 ml/kg), group 2 received RT (2.5 mg/kg) through i.p. route administration for 60 days to induce PD. The third group received BM extract (180 mg/kg/day) for 20 days orally before induction of PD and group 4 received Levodopa (LD) (10 mg/kg/day) orally which is referred as reference control. The Acetylcholine (ACh) and Acetylcholinesterase (AchE) had been elevated and depleted respectively when PD was induced. In LD and BM treated rats the Ach was decreased and AchE was increased when compared to the PD induced rats. Our results suggest the ability of BM extract to modulate cholinergic system in different brain regions of PD induced rats.