Neuroprotective activity of Matricaria recutita against fluoride-induced stress in rats

Figures & data

Table 1.  Effect of German chamomile methanol extract (GCME) against AlF₄⁻-induced oxidative stress in rats.

Treatment group	Lipid peroxidation (nmol/mg of protein)	Superoxide dismutase (U/mg of protein)	Catalase (U/mg of protein)	Glutathione (nmol/mg of protein)	Total thiols (μmol/mg of protein)
Normal	12.13 ± 2.91	171.7 ± 21.56	0.15 ± 0.02	7.06 ± 0.64	18.88 ± 0.89
Negative control (AlF4^−)	57.25 ± 2.87***	32.4 ± 1.43***	0.01 ± 0.01	3.32 ± 0.46***	12.64 ± 0.42***
100 mg/kg MR + AlF4^−	17.79 ± 3.15^a	186.2 ± 13.17^a	0.32 ± 0.05^a	6.13 ± 0.26^a	17.79 ± 0.79^a
200 mg/kg MR + AlF4^−	15.96 ± 2.59^a	180.8 ± 7.24^a	0.37 ± 0.04^a	7.46 ± 0.24^a	19.82 ± 0.91^a
300 mg/kg MR + AlF4^−	12.55 ± 2.29^a	184.7 ± 7.37^a	0.41 ± 0.03^a	7.03 ± 0.17^a	18.70 ± 0.45^a
Q 25 mg/kg + AlF4^−	8.10 ± 1.96^a	281.9 ± 44.45^a	0.57 ± 0.06^a	7.97 ± 0.44^a	20.25 ± 0.63^a

Values are mean ± SEM, n = 8, one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) followed by multiple comparison Dunnett’s test, *P < 0.05, **P < 0.01, and ***P < 0.001 vs. normal and ^aP < 0.001 vs. negative control. AlF₄⁻: Aluminium fluoride; MR: Matricaria recutita; Q: quercetin.

Figure 1.  Neuroprotective effect of German chamomile methanol extract against AlF₄⁻-induced oxidative brain damage in rats. Photographs of brain sections from different treatment groups stained with hematoxylin and eosin (H&E), 10×. Plates: A: normal; B: AlF₄⁻-treated group; C–E: 100 mg/kg + AlF₄⁻; 200 mg/kg + AlF₄⁻ and 300 mg/kg + AlF₄⁻, respectively; and F: quercetin 25 mg/kg + AlF₄⁻. In plate B, AlF₄⁻ through the drinking water caused brain damage in rats. There was a marked increase in intracellular space, neutrophil infiltration, and neuronal necrosis observed in the hippocampus region in AlF₄⁻-treated animals (B). There was a significant reversal of damage observed in German chamomile-treated groups (C–E) and also in quercetin-treated group (F). Scale bar: 100 µm.