Effect of Biarum carduchrum extract on brain tissue thiol level in rat model of ۶-hydroxydopamine-induced Parkinson’s disease

Introduction: Parkinson’s disease (PD) is developed due to the degeneration of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra, which is widely associated with oxidative stress. The reduction of glutathione, as the most abundant and important tissue thiol and an antioxidant defense agent, is one of the first biochemical events associated with PD, and therefore using antioxidants has a protective effect. In the present study, the effects of Biarum carduchrum extract on the thiol levels in the tissues of the hippocampus, striatum, cortex, and cerebellum in PD were investigated. Methods: Wistar rats were randomly divided into ۵ groups of ۸ each. Control group was left without lesion. PD group received ۸ μg of neurotoxin-۶-hydroxydopamine in the anterior-middle-brain. Seven days after PD induction, groups ۳-۵ intragastrically received ۱۰۰, ۲۰۰, and ۴۰۰ mg/mL of B. carduchrum extract, respectively, for ۱۴ days. At completion of treatments, brain tissues were removed and their thiol levels measured. Results: The levels of thiol in cortex, cerebellum, hippocampus, and striatum were significantly lower in the rats with PD than the control group. In B. carduchrum extract-treated groups, the thiol levels of cerebral cortex, cerebellum, hippocampus, and striatum tissues increased significantly compared to PD group. Conclusion: It seems that B. carduchrum extract leads to the functional regeneration of the nigro-striatal pathway through the mechanisms associated with its antioxidant properties.