*Corresponding Author:Swati Dhande, HOD & Assistant Professor, Department of Pharmacology, Bharati Vidyapeeth’s College of Pharmacy, Sector-8, C.B.D. Belapur, Navi Mumbai, India 9 Indian J.Pharm.Biol.Res. 2018; 6(3):9-12 ResearchArticle Evaluation of Neuroprotective effect of medicinal plants in Drosophila melanogaster model Prakash Chaudhary, Swati Dhande * HOD & Assistant Professor, Department of Pharmacology, Bharati Vidyapeeth’s College of Pharmacy, Sector-8, C.B.D. Belapur, Navi Mumbai, India ARTICLE INFO: Received: 25 June 2018 Received in revised form: 10 August 2018 Accepted: 20 August 2018 Available online: 30September 2018 Keywords: Bombaxceiba, Drosophila melanogaster, Negative, Geotaxis assay, Rotenone Abstract In this study, we investigated the neuroprotective effects of ethanolic extract of Bombax ceiba (EEBC) and ethanolic extract of Gymnemasylvestre (EEGS) against the toxicity induced by rotenone (ROT) in Drosophila melanogaster. Materials and Methods:Adult wild-type flies were concomitantly exposed to ROT (500 μM), EEBC (0.05% w/v and 0.1% w/v) and EEGS (0.05% w/v and 0.1% w/v) in the culture medium for 7 days. Results: ROT treated flies produced marked decreased in locomotor performance (i.e., climbing capability) in the negative geotaxis assay when compared to control group. EEBC and EEGS flies after treatment offered protection (24-42%) against the ROT-induced locomotor impairment in the negative geotaxis assay suggesting attenuation of ROT-induced locomotor deficits. Conclusion: The results of this study suggest that EEBC and EEGS were effective in reducing the toxicity induced by ROT in D. melanogaster as well as it confirms the significance of this model to explore possible therapeutic approaches in Parkinson’s disease (PD). Introduction PD is a second most common neurodegenerative disease after Alzheim PD is a second most common neurodegenerative disease after Alzheimer’s disease. It is characterized by loss of dopaminergic neurons in the substantianigra in the mid brain resulting in depletion of dopamine, formation of filamentous intraneuronal inclusions known as Lewy bodies on the surviving dopaminergic neurons and an extrapyramidal movement disorder [1,2]. However, free radical overproduction and abnormalities in mitochondria function have emerged as critical mediators of the dopaminergic neuronal damage [3]. PD is clinically characterized by locomotor symptoms such as muscle rigidity, bradykinesia, postural instability and tremor [4] . ROT a commonly used natural pesticide is a classic high affinity specific inhibitor of mitochondrial complex I which is capable of causing mitochondrial perturbations, dose- dependent ATP depletion, oxidative damage, and early mortality that mimics PD. Exposure of adult flies to sub lethal doses of ROT in the diet over 7 days causes a concentrationdependentlocomotor deficits, specific dopaminergic neuronal loss and reduction in the dopamine levels in adult flies [5] . Bombax ceiba belongs to the family Bombaceae,is one of the important medicinal plant.It contains various phytoconstituents such as vitexin, isovitexin, chlorogenic acid, rutin, hentriacontanol, sitosterol, isomangiferin, protoatechuic acid and kaempferol etc. A paste of leaves and flowers is used as external application for skin trouble. Seeds are applied on the skin in small pox and chicken pox. Leaves are used as laxative and hematinic. Bark is used for wound healing.It has various pharmacological activities like Anti-inflammatory, Anti-diabetic, Anti-obesity, Cytotoxicity, Aphrodisiac, Hypotensive, Antioxidant, Antiangiogenic, Antimicrobial, and Antipyretic [6] . Gymnema sylvestre belongs to the family Asclepiadaceae, popularly known as “gurmar” is a reputed herb in the Ayurvedic system of medicine used for treatment in conditions ranging from diabetes,malaria,to snakebites [7] .The leaves contain major constituents like gymnemic acids and gymnema saponins are members of oleanane type of saponins while gymnemasides are dammarane saponins [8,9] . Other constituents present in it are anthraquinones, hentriacontane, flavones, phytin, pentatriacontane, formic acid, butyric acid, tartaric acid, lupeol, resins,-amyrin related glycosides, calcium oxalate and stigmasterol [10] .It is used as naturopathic treatment for diabetes [11,12] . It has also demonstrated promising effects in CODEN (USA): IJPB07 ISSN: 2320-9267 Indian Journal of Pharmaceutical and Biological Research (IJPBR) Journal homepage: www.ijpbr.in