Evaluation of Antiparkinsonian Activity of Methanol Leaves Extract of Mucuna pruriens in Haloperidol-induced Parkinson’s Disease

Abstract

Background: Parkinson's disease is the second most common neurodegenerative condition. It is characterized by the destruction of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra of the striatum, resulting in a decrease in dopamine (DA) levels. Mucuna pruriens, commonly known as velvet bean, has a long history of use in traditional medicine, particularly in Ayurveda. It has been utilized for various purposes, including as an aphrodisiac, a nervine tonic, and for treating Parkinson's disease and other nervous system disorders. Mucuna pruriens, known as Kiwach in Hindi, is called Atmagupta in Sanskrit. Among the Yoruba tribe in southwestern Nigeria, it is referred to as werepe. The plant belongs to the Fabaceae family and the Papilionaceae subfamily. While most previous research has focused on the seeds of this plant, we have chosen to investigate its leaves. This study aims to analyze the antiparkinsonian activity of the methanolic leaf extract of Mucuna pruriens (MLEMP). Materials and Methods: Catalepsy test, rotarod test, exploratory behavior test (rearing) and locomotor activity tests were conducted to observe antiparkinsonian activity of the MLEMP (200, 400, 800 mg/kg) in haloperidol-induced Parkinson’s disease using rats.  The levels of malondialdehyde (MDA) and reduced glutathione (GSH) in the brain's striatum were measured to assess oxidative stress. Results: MLEMP pretreated groups showed a significant decrease in the latency period in the catalepsy test (p < 0.05) and a significant increase in retention time in the rotarod test (p < 0.05) compared to the haloperidol-treated group alone. The MLEMP-pretreated groups demonstrated a significant antioxidative effect, shown by a marked increase in GSH levels (p < 0.05) and a reduction in brain MDA levels (p < 0.05). Conclusions: In the pathophysiology of Parkinson's disease (PD), oxidative stress plays a crucial role. The results of this study demonstrate that MLEMP exhibits antioxidant activity and provides neuroprotective effects in the haloperidol experimental model of PD.