Effect of Gotu Kola (Centella asiatica) Extract Toward Expression of Caspase 3 of Hippocampus Pyramidal Cells on Dementia Model Rats Induced by Trimethyltin.

Abstract

Hippocampus is part of brain that has an important role in the process of memory. Hippocampus is very sensitive to oxidative stress. Oxidative stress in the hippocampus can cause apoptosis of neurons associated with the pathogenesis of dementia. Gotu kola (Centella asiatica) has antioxidants effect that can prevent apoptotic cells. The aim of the study was to find out the effects of gotu kola extracts toward expression of caspase 3 in CA1 and CA2-CA3 regions of hippocampus on trimethyltin (TMT)-induced dementia rats. The rats were divided randomly into six groups consisting of 5 rats of each.The normal group was given oral CMC-Na solution and injection of 0.9% saline intraperitonealy (ip); the negative control group was given oral CMC-Na solution and TMT dissolved in 0.9% saline (ip); the positif control group was given oral 200 mg/kg body weight (bw) of citicoline solution and TMT; and the extract groups were treated with oral 100, 200, and 300 mg/kg bw, respectively, of gotu kola extract and TMT. The extract and citicoline solutions were given at day 1 up to day 35 of experiment, whereas the TMT chloride was injected as a single dose of 8 mg/kg bw at day 8 of experiment. On the 36 th day the rats were sacrificed. The hippocampus was taken to observe caspase 3 expression in CA1 and CA2-CA3 regions with immunohistochemical staining. The data of a percentage of the number of cells expressing caspase 3 in CA1 and CA2CA3 regions were statistically analyzed using one-way anova continued by Tukey-HSD test at significant level 0.05. The injection of TMT could signifcantly increase caspase 3 expression in the CA1 and CA2-CA3 regions of hippocampus. Administration of gotu cola extract dose 100, 200, and 400 mg /kg bw could reduce caspase 3 expression and significantly different compare to negative control. Gotu kola extract may have antiapoptotic effect on the hippocampal pyramidal cells of the dementia model rats induced by trimethyltin. Keywords—hippocampus, caspase 3, gotu kola (centella asiatica), dementia, TMT