Neuroprotective effects of ellagic acid in a rat model of Parkinson's disease induced by 6-hydroxydopamine

Antioxidants have protective effects against free radicals-induced neural damage in Parkinson's disease (PD). We examined the effects of ellagic acid (EA) on locomotion, pallidal local EEG and its frequency band's power and also cerebral antioxidant contents in a rat model of PD induced by 6-hydroxidopamine (6-OHDA).
6-OHDA (16 µg/2 µl) was injected into the right medial forebrain bundle (MFB) in MFB-lesioned rat's brain. Sham group received vehicle instead of 6-OHDA. PD-model was confirmed by rotational test using apomorphine injection. EA (50 mg/kg/2 ml, by gavages) was administered in PD group. One group of MFB-lesioned rats received pramipexole (PPX; 2 mg/kg/2 ml, by gavages) as positive control group (PD㳵 group). Motor activity was assessed by stride length, rotarod and cylinder tests. Pallidal local EEG was recorded in freely moving rats. The levels of malondialdehyde (MDA) besides Glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities were measured in both striatum and hippocampus tissues.
MFB lesion caused significant reduction of stride-length (P