The effect of hydroalcoholic extract of Ruta graveolens on oxidative stress markers and cholinesterase in brain rats receiving high-cholesterol diet

High cholesterol is associated with higher incidence of cardiovascular diseases and oxidative stress. Ruta graveolens (RG) is one of the medicinal plants used in Iranian traditional medicine and different nations in the treatment of many diseases with antioxidant effects. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of hydroalcoholic extract of RG on oxidative stress markers and cholinesterase enzyme in brain tissue of rats receiving high-cholesterol (HC) diet.   In this experimental study, 28 male Wistar rats were randomly divided into 4 groups: Control, RG and HC diet and  HC diet+RG. For 8 weeks, Control and RG group received normal diet and the other 2 groups received HC diet (1% cholesterol and colic acid 0.25%). After 8 weeks, treatment groups were treated with 100 mg/kg of RG intraperitoneally for 3 weeks. At the end of the experiment, the rats were anesthetized with diethyl ether and their brain were excised. After tissue homogenate was prepared, oxidative stress markers (level of reactive oxygen species (ROS), glutathione and catalase activity) and butyrylcholinesterase activity were measured using specific kits.   Eight-week diet with HC decreased glutathione level and the activity of butyrylcholinesterase and catalase enzymes and increased ROS in the hippocampal tissue of rats. Three-week treatment with hydroalcoholic extract of RG significantly increased the activity of the butyrylcholinesterase enzyme in the treated rats compared with the HC diet group. In addition, the activity of catalase and level of glutathione increased in HC diet+RG group compared to the HC diet group. However, this increase was not significant. Also, the difference between level of ROS in different groups was not statistically significant.   Results of this study demonstrated that hydroalcoholic extract of RG significantly increases the activity of the butyrylcholinesterase enzyme in the hippocampal tissue of treated rats compared to the HC group and also had a partial effect on the antioxidant levels and defense against oxidative stress in the rats receiving HC diet but this difference was not statistically significant.