Abstract

RUTIN ATTENUATES 3-NITROPROPIONIC ACID INDUCED BEHAVIOURAL ALTERATIONS AND MITOCHONDRIAL DYSFUNCTION IN THE STRIATUM OF RAT BRAIN

Sarumani Natarajan Suganya, Thangarajan Sumathi*

ABSTRACT

3-Nitropropionic acid (3-NP) is a mitochondrial toxin, produced by the plants like Astrgalus and also from fungus Arthrium species. Systemic administration of 3-NP in rats produces striatal degeneration serves as an important model of Huntington’s disease (HD). Present study has been designed to explore the neuroprotective effect of Rutin (RT), a bioflavonoid against the 3-NP induced neurotoxicity through mitochondrial dysfunction in male wistar rats. The intraperitoneal (i.p.) administration of 3-NP (10mg/kg) for 14 days elicited marked oxidative stress in striatum as evidenced by significantly enhanced protein oxidation with reduced locomotor activities, grip strength and mitochondrial complex enzymes. Rutin pretreatment 25 mg/kg and 50 mg/kg significantly improved the behavioral alterations and restored the activities of mitochondrial complex enzymes in 3-NP induced group. This study highlights the therapeutic potential of rutin against 3- NP induced Huntington’s like conditions and further indicates that the drug might act through its antioxidant activitiy.

Keywords: Rutin, 3-Nitropropionic acid, behavior, mitochondrial oxidative stress.