Protective effects of aqueous extract of silybum marianum in 6-hydroxydopamine-induced model of parkinsonism in male rat: a behavioral, biochemical and histological study

Abstract

Introduction : Parkinson,s disease (PD) is a common neurological disorder due to degeneration of substantia nigra pars compacta degeneration. With regard to protective effect of silybum marianum, this study was conducted to evaluate the protective effect of aqueous extract of this plant in an experimental model of PD . Materials and Methods: Forty male rats were randomly divided into 4 groups sham-operated(SH), extract-treated sham-operated (E+SH), lesion (L) and extract-treated lesion(E+L) groups. The hemi-PD model was induced by unilateral intrastriatal injection of 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA, 12.5  g/  l of saline-ascorbate).The E+SH and E+L groups received intra-peritoneal pretreatment of aqueous extract of silybummarianum (200mg/kg/daily) for one week before surgery. Two weeks after surgery, the animals were tested for rotational behavior by apomorphine hydrochloride and the number of nissle-stained neurons in the substantia nigra pars compacta (SNC). Results: Two weeks after surgery, apomorphine caused a significant contralateral turning (P