Neuroprotective Activity Guided Fractionation of Tridax procumbence in Zebra Fish and Fruit Fly Model

Parkinson's disease (PD) is the second most common neurodegenerative disease characterized by loss of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra. The present study was designed to evaluate neuroprotective activity of hexane and chloroform extract (HETP and CETP) and active fraction of chloroform extract (CETPF2) of Tridax procumbens leaves, family Asteraceae. As chloroform extract had shown the effective treatment for rotenone induced catalepsy in zebra fish and fruit fly as compared to hexane extract Tridax procumbens. Hence it was selected for further fractionation using column chromatography. The experimental paradigm included rotenone induced catalepsy in zebra fish model and rotenone-induced locomotor impairment in the fruit fly. In the catalepsy model, the zebra fish received treatment of HETP (40 and 10mg/L) and CETP (40 and 10mg/L), CETPF2 (24 and 6mg/L) followed by rotenone 500uM for 28 days. The significant (p<0.05) increase in time spent near bottom of tank, due to rotenone induction while; decrease in time spent near bottom of tank was found with the treatment of CETP (40 and 10mg/L) and CETPF2 (24 and 6mg/L). The super oxide dismutase levels and reduced glutathione levels were found to be significantly (p<0.05) increased and decreased lipid peroxidation at CETP (40 and 10mg/L) and CETPF2 (24 and 6mg/L) . In fruit fly model; rotenone (ROT) 200 μM co-exposed with CETP (0.05 and 0.02% w/v) and CETPF2 (0.04 and 0.02% w/v) to flies for 7 days. Treatment with CETP (0.05 and 0.02% w/v) and CETPF2 (0.04 and 0.02% w/v) significantly (p<0.05) improved the performances of locomotor activity in flies when compared with ROT treated flies. Thus, the study proved that CETP and CETPF 2 treatment significantly decreased time spent near bottom of tank and also protected the brain from oxidative stress.