Echinacea purpurea extract intervention for counteracting neurochemical and behavioral changes induced by bifenthrin

Abstract

Abstract This study was conducted to elucidate the possible protective efficiency of Echinacea purpurea hydroethanolic extract (EchEE) against bifenthrin-induced neuro-chemical and behavioral changes in rats. Total phenolics content, reducing power and radical scavenging activity of EchEE were estimated. Four groups of adult male albino rats were used (10 rats each) as follows: 1) Control healthy rats ingested with placebo, 2) Healthy rats orally received EchEE (465 mg/kg/day), 3) Rats intoxicated with (7mg/kg/day) bifenthrin (BIF) dissolved in olive oil, and 4) Rats ingested with EchEE one-hour prior to intoxication with bifenthrin. After 30 days, some neuro-chemical and behavioral tests were assessed. The behavioral tests revealed that rats received bifenthrin exhibited exploratory behavior and spatial learning impairments, memory and locomotion dysfunction, and enhanced anxiety level. Biochemical findings revealed induced-oxidative stress in the cortex and hippocampus; this was achieved from the significant rise in malondialdehyde (MDA) and nitric oxide (NO) levels, coupled with decreased catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), paraoxonase-1 (PON-1) activities, and reduced glutathione (GSH) level in both brain areas. Also, BIF induced a significant increase caspas-3, tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF), and interleukin-1beta (IL-1ß) in both areas; dopamine and serotonin levels and ACh-ase activity were markedly decreased in both areas. Interestingly, treatment of rats with EchEE one-hour prior to BIF resulted in a significant decrease in oxidative stress damage, and modulation of the apoptotic and pro-inflammatory markers. Also, EchEE markedly improved behavioral activities and neurotransmitters level that were impaired by BIF. In conclusion, the present study clearly indicated that EchEE can attenuate brain dysfunction induced by pesticides exposure through preventing the oxidative stress. This may be attributed to its high antioxidant component.