Evaluating the effect of Gallic acid on perphenazine induced catatonia in rats

Catatonia is one of the major signs of Parkinson’s disease which is due to impaired dopamine in extrapyramidal system. This study was performed to elucidate the role of Gallic acid (GA) on perphenazine (PPZ)-induced catatonia in rat.

In this experimental study, 48 Wistar male rats weighting 180-220 g were randomly divided into 6 groups (n = 8) in each group. Animals were pre-treated with a single dose of normal saline (5ml/kg), most effective dose of bromocriptine (30mg/kg) and GA (100, 200,400 and 600 mg/kg) via intraperitoneal (IP) route. PPZ (5 mg/kg, IP) was administered after 30 minutes of first injection to induce catatonia. The scoring method of Morpurgo was used to determine the muscular rigidity of animals.

This study obtained its ethical approval form the Research Ethics Committee. (Code: IR.MAZUMS.RIB.REC.1398.056).

The results showed that the 100mg/kg GA treated group had no significant reduction in catatonic responses after PPZ administration in comparison with negative control group while the groups that received 400 and 600mg/kg of GA showed significant difference (p<0.05) at all the time points.

The results revealed that GA has protective effect on catatonia induced by PPZ in rats. So GA may be probably helpful for reducing catatonia in Parkinsonism.