Evaluation of hydroalcoholic extract of Thyme on malondialdehyde, thiol, and glutathione peroxidase concentration in the Parkinson's model induced by 6-hydroxydopamine in adult male rats

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a neuropathologic disorder caused by dopaminergic neurons degeneration in the dense part of the substantia nigra.

The present study, designed to evaluate the effect of hydroalcoholic extract of thyme on malondialdehyde (MDA), thiol, and glutathione peroxidase (GPX) concentration in the PD induced by 6-hydroxydopamine in an animal model.

In this experimental study, 40 male rats, were divided randomly into five groups (n=8) including control and PD group in which PD was induced by 4 µg 6-hydroxydopamine neurotoxin in medial forebrain bundle (MFB). Treatment groups received 100, 200 and 400 mg/kg thyme extract via intragastric administration for 14 days and then, the brains of the rats were extracted to evaluate lipid peroxidation and measure the levels of thiol (-SH) and GPX.

The significant increase in MDA concentration in the cerebral cortex, hippocampus, striatum (P< 0.05) and cerebellum (P< 0.001) and a significant reduction in thiol and GPX enzyme (P< 0.001) were reported in rats with PD. Treatment with thyme extract significantly increased thiol and GPX (P< 0.001) and significantly reduced MDA in the hippocampus, striatum (P< 0.001) and cerebral cortex (P< 0.01).

Thyme extract showed potent antioxidant activity in an animal model of PD.