Hesperetin attenuates neuroprotective effect against 3-Nitropropionic acid induced Huntington’s disease-like behavioral symptoms in rats

The disease Huntington’s (HD) is an autosomal neurologic disorder characterized by inexorable loss of nerve cells in the brain accompanied with cognitive, motor and psychiatric disorders. In the present study, 3-Nitropropionic acid (3-NP), an inhibitor of mitochondrial citric acid cycle results in symptoms like HD. Hesperetin(HSP) is a flavanone rich in citrus species which possess neuroprotective effects. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the protective role of HSP against 3-NP induced symptoms. Pre-treatment of animals with HSP/normal saline for 7 days and from 8th day, 3-NP (10mg/kg) was co-administered with HSP. It is continued for 21 days of the treatment schedule. At the end day of the study, the results showed that HSP improved all the cognitive, motor and psychiatric symptoms induced by 3-NP significantly. Hence, these findings show the protective effect of HSP against 3-NP induced neurological disorder. Keywords: Huntington’s disease, Hesperetin, 3-Nitropropionic acid,