RESUMO
CONTEXT: Neuroprotective therapy to rescue dopaminergic neurons is an important trait in the management of Parkinson's disease (PD). OBJECTIVE: The present study identified and evaluated SFSE-T, a standardized hydroalcoholic extract of Trigonella foenum-graecum L. seeds (Fabaceae), in animal models of PD. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The identification of SFSE-T was carried out by high-performance liquid chromatography for the marker compound trigonelline (TGN). The effects of single dose oral treatment of SFSE-T (10, 30 or 100 mg/kg) were studied using animal models of PD, namely, 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA)-induced unilateral lesions in rats, and 4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP)-induced neurodegeneration in C57BL/6 mice. The effects of SFSE-T on monoamino oxidase (MAO) enzyme in vitro as well as possible side effects of SFSE-T in vivo were also evaluated. RESULTS: The concentration of TGN in a test sample of SFSE-T was found to be 82%. SFSE-T (30 mg/kg, oral) showed a significant increase in the number of ipsilateral rotations (45.67 rotations in 30-min period) as compared with vehicle control group (no rotations) when tested in 6-OHDA-induced unilateral lesioned rats. SFSE-T (30 mg/kg, oral) showed significant reversal of motor dysfunction (spontaneous motor activity scores, speed, distance traveled and number of square crossed) caused by MPTP induced lesions in C57BL/6 mice in pretreatment (1 h) schedule but not in post-treatment (1 h) schedule. SFSE-T neither showed anticholinergic effects nor showed selective MAO-B enzyme inhibition in vitro. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: SFSE-T showed reversal of motor symptoms in an animal model of PD probably through neuroprotective properties.