Anil Kumar
Panjab University, India
Title: Neuroprotective mechanisms of Beberine in cognitive dysfunction
Biography
Biography: Anil Kumar
Abstract
Therapeutic potential of berberine has been well documented in various neurological problems. However, neurological mechanism of berberine remains untapped in the light of its p-glycoprotein mediated gut efflux properties responsible for reduced bioavailability. The present study was designed to evaluate the neuroprotective mechanism of berberine and its effect on various behavioral alterations, oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction, neuroinflammation and histopathological modifications in sporadic dementia of Alzheimer's type in rats. Berberine (25, 50 and 100 mg/kg) or verapamil (2.5 and 5 mg/kg) were used as a treatment drugs and memantine (5mg/kg) was used as a standard. In the present study, berberine and verapamil significantly attenuated behavioural, biochemical, cellular and histological alterations suggesting their neuroprotective potential. Further, treatment of berberine (25 and 50 mg/kg) with verapamil (2.5 and 5.0 mg/kg) combinations respectively significantly potentiated their neuroprotective effect which was significant as compared to their effect per se in ICV-STZ treated animals. The augmentative outcome of verapamil on the neuroprotective effect of berberine can be speculated due to the inhibition of P-gp efflux mechanism and the prevention of calcium homeostasis alteration. In addition, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects of both berberine and verapamil could also contribute in their protective effect.