Neuroprotective Effects of Mucuna pruriens Against Stress-Induced Oxidative Damage

Stress is known to alter the cellular homeostasis by oxidative damage in brain which in turn involves in various forms of neurotoxicity including neuronal death. The seed powder of the leguminous plant, Mucuna pruriens (MP) has long been used in traditional Ayurvedic Indian medicine for various neurological diseases including Parkinsonism. The neuroprotective and neurorestorative effect of MP was attributed to its antioxidant activity. In the present study the antioxidant potential of MP was evaluated in stressed rat brains. Adult male and female rats were stressed (immobilization for 6 hours/day during 21 days) and also treated with Mucuna pruriens. Oxidative stress was assessed by measuring the extent of lipid peroxidation and reduced Glutathione activities and also totals antioxidant activity in rat brain. Immobilization stress caused an alteration in oxidative stress markers with a significance increase in brain lipid peroxidation and depletion of reduced glutathione and total antioxidant activities in brain homogenate of stressed rats. MP has significantly minimized the oxidative stress effects by significant decrease in lipid peroxidation level and also an increase in reduced glutathione level as well as total antioxidant activities. Results of the present study indicated that MP has antioxidant potential against stress-induced oxidative damage in rat brain. J Physiol Biomed Sci. 2011; 24(2): 28-33.