NEUROPROTECTIVE EFFECTS OF CITRULLUS COLOCYNTHIS ETHANOLIC EXTRACT IN A 6-OHDA-INDUCED RAT MODEL OF PARKINSON'S DISEASE

Parkinson's disease (PD), a prevalent neurological disorder, is marked by the degeneration of dopamineproducing neurons. In this study, a Wistar rat model of PD induced by 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) was used to investigate the potential neuroprotective effects of an ethanolic extract of Citrullus colocynthis. The rats were injected with 6-OHDA using a Hamilton syringe and stereotaxic equipment to mimic Parkinsonism. After a 30-day post-surgery survival period, the rats received an oral dose of 200 mg/kg of the Citrullus colocynthis extract, which was prepared using a Soxhlet device with a 70:30 ethanol-to-water solvent ratio. The rats also underwent step-testing exercises. For comparison, a group received conventional therapy with 5 mg/kg of L-dopa+carbidopa. The efficacy of the treatment was evaluated based on tremor, salivation, and performance in pole tests, open field tests, and rotarod tests. The findings suggest that Citrullus colocynthis may possess significant neuroprotective properties, making it a promising adjunctive therapy for Parkinson's disease.