Abstract
Aim: The role of guggulipid was evaluated in high fat diet and middle cerebral artery
occlusion (MCAO) induced ischemic cerebral dysfunctions in rats of either sex.
Materials and Methods: Ethyl acetate extract of guggul known as guggulipid was prepared and administered
to rats. Animals were divided into 9 groups, consisting 6 rats, each receiving different
treatments per orally for 8 weeks. Control group rats received normal control diet
while rest of the other groups animals were fed high fat diet (HFD) for 8 weeks. Cerebral
ischemia was induced for 2 h followed by reperfusion for 22 h. Locomotor activity
and grip strength tests were performed immediately after 24 h of reperfusion followed
by biochemical estimations and histopathology.
Results: Locomotor activity and grip strength were significantly decreased in HFD and HFD
fed MCAO groups and improved significantly in pretreatment groups. Cerebral infarction,
thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARs), nitric oxide and tumor necrosis factor
alfa (TNFα) levels were increased, pretreatment of guggulipid alone and with aspirin
significantly reduced these markers. Reduced glutathione (GSH), superoxide dismutase
(SOD) and catalase, levels were decreased but all drug pretreated groups showed significant
improvement in those markers.
Conclusion: Guggulipid demonstrated neuroprotection owing to its hypolipidemic, antioxidant,
anti-inflammatory and anti-thrombotic activities but further research is warranted
to confirm its role in cerebral ischemia.
Key words
guggulipid - aspirin - HFD - MCAO - cerebral ischemia
