Protective Role Of Withania Somnifera On Cerebellar Oxidative Stress And Sensorimotor Coordination In Chronic Unpredictable Stress Induced Depression Model Wistar Rats

Chronic stress is a prime cause of concern in mental health causing diverse changes in the normal physiological homeostatis. Withania somnifera (Linn.) has been used in Ayurvedic and indigenous medicine due to its diverse medicinal properties . The present study has been designed to evaluate the protective role of Withania somnifera in chronic unpredictable stress induced Wistar rat model of depression targeting Cerebellum. Wistar albino rats were divided into three groups namely, Group I (Control), Group II (Chronic unpredictable stress exposed rats) and Group III (rats treated with W. somnifera during the exposure to CUS. Oxidative stress parameters in the cerebellum were evaluated. Further rotarod test was performed to assess the sensorimotor coordination. The lipidperoxidation  level significantly increased (p<0.001) in the cerebellar tissue during the exposure to stress in Group II and significantly decreased (p<0.001) in the Group III. The total antioxidant activity . The Superoxide dismutase level in the cerebellum  significantly (p<0.001) declined in Group II and significantly increased (p<0.001) Group III. Further, sensorimotor coordination also showed a significant improvement in Group III. The present study confirmed the anti-stressor role of W. somnifera on cerebellar oxidative stress and improvising sensorimotor coordination in rat model