Herniarin ameliorates acrylamide-induced neurotoxicity in rat: involvement of neuro-inflammation and acetylcholinesterase

This study aimed to investigate the protective effects of herniarin against acrylamide neuro-toxicity. Rats were administered 50 mg/kg of acrylamide (Acr) along with oral doses of herniarin at 50, 100, and 200 mg/kg for 11 days. After treatment, the animals were sacrificed and biochemical markers including superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase activity, malondialdehyde (MDA), nitric oxide (NO), thiols and acetylcholine esterase (AChE) level were evaluated. Moreover, mRNA expression of neuro-inflammatory cytokines including TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6 were measured using qRT-PCR method. As results, Acr increased MDA with subsequent reduction in SOD, catalase, and thiols content. In contrast, administration of herniarin remarkably normalised the antioxidants and decreased lipid peroxidation. Furthermore, it downregulated mRNA expression of TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6 (<i>p</i> < 0.001) as well as decreased NO (<i>p</i> < 0.01) and AchE levels (<i>p</i> < 0.001) in the Acr-injured brains. Herniarin ameliorated Acr-induced brain injury <i>via</i> modulating redox hemostasis, cholinergic function, as well as inhibiting neuro-inflammation in rats.