Neuronal and Oxidative Damage in the Catfish Brain Alleviated After Mucuna Seed Extract Treatment

The neurodegenerative activity of a synthetic detergent sodium dodecyl sulphate (SDS) on brain physiology in Indian native catfish Heteropneustes fossilis and the efficacy of methanol extract of Mucuna pruriens seeds for alleviating such effects were demonstrated. Fish (n=36, 2 replicates) were exposed to SDS (2.75 mg/l) for 0 (control), 15 and 30 days. After 30-days treatment, methanol extract of Mucuna seed was injected for continuous seven days and sampling was done on each alternate odd days (1, 3, 5 and 7 days). Levels of different enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidants, Na+-K+-ATPase, acetylcholine esterase; monoamine oxidase; nitric oxide were measured in H. fossilis brain tissue. 30- days treatment with SDS caused significant decrease in reduced glutathione, catalase, superoxide dismutase, glutathione S-transferase, while glutathione reductase, malondialdehyde level increased significantly (P less than 0.05). Administration of Mucuna seed extract (15.5 mg/kg body weight) was found to restore the neurological activity and reduce stress in a time-dependent manner as the biochemical and neurological parameters in fish after 7-day extract administration showed no significant difference (P>0.05) compared to those in control without SDS treatment, except for GST and GPx which were unable to return to the basal level.