Razi Journal of Medical Sciences

Background: Oxidative stress contributes to dopamine cell degeneration in Parkinson’s disease (PD). This study was performed with the aim of studying the protective effects of Eriobotrya japonica flower extract (EJFE) on intraventricular 6-hydroxydopamine-induced lesion in male rats.

Methods: In this laboratory experimental study, twenty seven rats were divided into three groups: control, lesioned and extract treated lesioned. Lesion was induced with injection of 250 mg/kg of intraventricullar 6-hydroxydopamine (i.c.v. 6-OHDA). Lesioned and extract treated lesioned groups received saline and extract (200 mg/kg) three times per week for 12 weeks, intraperitoneally. Five days after i.c.v. 6-OHDA injection, tyrosine hydroxylase and dopamine levels in the striatum were measured by ELISA method. Data was analyzed using one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA).

Results: Results show that consuming the extract significantly prevented the decrease in dopamine levels in Parkinson rats (p= 0.001), but tyrosine hydroxylase level did not change in the extract group (p= 0.86).

Conclusions: The results of this research showed that pre-treatment with hydro alcoholic extraction of Eriobotrya japonica protected the dopaminergic neurons against 6-OHDA lesion and may have protective role against Parkinson disease.