The effect of hydroalcoholic extract of Pimpinella anisum on hippocampal oxidative stress and activity of butyrylcholinesterase in rats under high-cholesterol diet

High-cholesterol diet and ensuing oxidative stress causes development of various neurologic disorders. Considering anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties of the anise (Pimpinella anisum) plant, the effect of its hydroalcoholic extract on hippocampal oxidative stress and cholinesterase activity was assessed in rats under high-cholesterol diet. In this experimental study, rats were divided into control, extract-treated control, high cholesterol diet, and extract-treated high cholesterol diet. After 8 weeks, treated groups also received extract at a dose of 250 mg/kg (i.p.) for 3 weeks and high-cholesterol diet was given till the end of the study. Then, after preparing hippocampal homogenate, butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) activity and oxidative stress factors including reactive oxygen species (ROS), glutathione (GSH), and catalase activity were determined. One-way ANOVA and Tukey's post-hoc tests were used for statistical analysis of data. High cholesterol diet significantly increased hippocampal BChE activity and ROS level and significantly decreased GSH and catalase activity. Conversely, extract treatment of group under high-cholesterol diet caused significant decrease of ROS and BChE activity and significant increase of GSH and with no significant effect on catalase activity. Consumption of anise hydroalcoholic extract under high-cholesterol diet reduces hippocampal oxidative stress and cholinesterase activity and this may lower associated neurological complications.