Evaluation of Anti-parkinsonian Activity of Seed Extract of Nelumbo Nucifera

Methanolic seed extract of Nelumbo nucifera was partitioned with chloroform and was investigated for its antioxidant and anticataleptic effects in the haloperidol-induced catalepsy rat model by measuring various behavioral and biochemical parameters. Catalepsy was induced by administration of haloperidol (1 mg/kg, ip) in male albino rats. A significant reduction in the cataleptic scores were observed in all the drug-treated groups as compared to the haloperidol-treated group; with maximum reduction observed in the Nelumbo nucifera (200 and 400 mg/kg body weight) administered group. The biochemical parameters like thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS); catalase; and superoxide dismutase (SOD), in the brain were assessed. Haloperidol administration resulted in the increased generation of TBARS and decrease in catalase & SOD levels. The study concluded that Nelumbo nucifera treatment restored the levels of TBARS, Catalase and SOD levels in haloperidol induced catalepsy in rats.