Lauric acid: Its role in behavioral modulation, neuro-inflammatory and oxidative stress markers in haloperidol induced Parkinson's disease.

The study was designed to investigate the neuro-protection of lauric acid (LA) on haloperidol (HPD) induced Parkinson's disease (PkD) rat model. Rats were divided into group A (normal), group B (diseased, by HPD 1mg/kg i.p. for 14 days), group C (standard treatment, levodopa 30 mg/kg), group D (vehicle coconut oil 1ml/kg), group E (LA 0.66mg/kg) and group F (LA 1.32mg/kg) for 35 days after induction of PkD. The study displayed a state of oxidative stress in the striatum of rat model of PkD as shown from the increased MDA, NO levels and the decreased superoxide dismutase levels. HPD caused an increase in tumor necrosis factor-α level, NF-κB, IL-8 mRNA expression and suppress IL-4 expression. Neuro-protection with LA attenuated the oxidative stress and changes in pro-inflammatory cytokines induced due to PkD induction. The LA treatment also showed improvement in the histo-pathology of the rats' brain. LA also improved behavioral performances, food intake, weight gain as compared to animal of diseased group and prevented decline in motor activities (assessed Rotarod, and Beam walking test). LA showed significant neuro-protection against oxidative stress, inflammatory cytokines and behavioral changes in HPD induced rat model of PkD.

Effectiveness of clobazam on perception, creativity, intelligence, selective and visual memory.

Clobazam belongs to benzodiazepine class and is preferably used against anti-epileptic disorders. However, when used in reduced doses, its ability for improving cognitive functions becomes explicitly evident. This study objectively undertook the task of using the reduced doses of clobazam for proving potentials effects on cognitive functions. The drug, clobazam was administered in "active group" which contained 15 young healthy volunteers. The "placebo group" also entailed 15 subjects and each was administered with placebo drug. The controlled group? also included 15 subjects. All these 45 young healthy subjects were subjected to tests for perceptual learning, creativity, selective memory, visual memory and intelligence. Results clearly demonstrated significant impact of clobazam at the dose of 5mg/day on perceptual learning (P=0.0380), creativity (P=0.0787), memory function (P=0.4920), visual memory (P=0.4816) and intelligence of the subject (P=0.4920). The outcomes highlighted in the studies reviled the positive effects of clobazam when used at reduced doses.