Determination of possible neuroprotective and neurodegenerative potentials of Leontice Smirnowii

Anti-oxidant and oxygen radical scavenging effects of Leontice smirnowii that grows in the eastern part of Georgia have been shown in the literature. In the literature anti-inflammatory effects of Leontice smirnowii also have been shown. Generally substances showing antioxidant properties also shows neuroprotective effects.In this study, potential neurodegenerative and neuroprotective effects of this substance was investigated in adult rat cerebellum and cortex tissue homogenates with WST-1, TUNEL staining and subG1 phase DNA fragmentation tests. To generate degeneration in the homogenates, Hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and diamminedichloroplatinum(II) (cisplatin) was used. Findings obtained from WST-1 test was subjected to statistical analysis.Results obtained from three different methods showed consistence between themselves. While Leontice smirnowii had no effect in the neurodegeneration generated with H2O2, it shown little effect in cisplatin. However this effect disappeared with increasing doses of Leontice smirnowii.