Protective effect of Gymnema sylvestre leave against neurotoxicity of lambda-cyhalothrin in experimental rats

Abstract

The demographic explosion of the world population and its food needs are the main reasons that have led to a dramatic increase in the production and use of pesticides that can cause the appearance of several diseases. Currently, research is focused on medicinal plants considered as a potential source of multiple phytotherapeutic substances endowed with antioxidant activities. Gymnema sylvestre (GYM), commonly known as Gurmar, is famous for containing bioactive compounds which made it eligible for use as a medicinal plant. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate the potential of G. sylvestre leaf extract against the toxic effect of Lambda-cyhalothrin (LCT) a synthetic pyrethroid pesticide in rat. An ethnobotanical study was conducted to assess the recognition and the use of this plant in our region, and an in vivo study was carried out on twenty female rats Wistar, which were divided into four groups and treated orally for 30 days: control group; LCT treated-group (6.3 mg/kg); GYM-treated group (400 mg/kg) and a co-treatment group. At the end of the experiment, we performed a battery of behavioral tests (FST, EPM, OF) and the rats were decapitated and their blood was collected for hematological and biochemical analysis, brain was carefully removed and preserved for the antioxidant activities. The results show that LCT induced a loss of body weight, hematological disturbances (leukocytosis, lymphocytosis, monocytosis, thrombocytopenia and anemia), hyperglycemia, an increase in brain protein levels and a decrease in the activity of antioxidant (GSH, GST), and a behavioral disorders (Reduction of locomotion and exploration, anxiety and depression like-behaviors). In contrast, administration of Gymnema sylvestre significantly attenuated these alterations: improvement in the activity of brain antioxidant markers, stabilization of hematological parameters, partial normalization of behavior, and reduction of hyperglycemia . In conclusion, Gymnema sylvestre exhibits an anxiolytic, antidepressant, and antioxidant effects against LCT-induced brain damage and hemato-biochemical disturbance in rat.