Herbal Calendula, the Natural and Potent Neuroprotective Functional Herb

Herbal Calendula may have a potential and profound effect in protecting the neurons integrity against the onset of neuroprotective effects.

Neuroprotective effect is a protection against the damage of the brain cells.

The nerve system is a complex network including the brain and spinal cord with a unique function in transmitting information or signals from and to the brain and spinal cord from different parts of the body.

The nerve system in the human has evolved over thousands of the year to enhance the survivals of the human species by the rapid response to the change of the environmental factors and adapting to the change of environment.


The causes of neuro diseases are associated with the damage or dysfunction of the central nervous system (CNS), including the brain, brainstem, and spinal cord.

However, some of the most common causes of neuro diseases are associated with neurotoxicity, the term which refers to damage to the brain or spinal cord caused by exposure to natural or man-made toxic substances, leading to gradual loss of neurons that interfere with the function of the nerve system in transmitting information to other parts of the body.

There are many factors associated with the onset of neurotoxicities, such as characteristics of the neurotoxin, the doses of exposure, and the ability to metabolize and excrete the toxin.

Accumulation of toxic chemicals over the long-term in the nerve system can overwhelm the protective factors, leading to neurotoxic symptoms of paralysis or weakness in the limbs. altered sensation, tingling, and numbness in the limbs, prolonged headache, and vision loss, depending on the brain area of toxicity.


In the elderly, the neuro-toxicity is also found to speed up the onset of neurodegenerative diseases, leading to symptoms of loss of memory and cognitive dysfunction, such as Alzheimer's disease.


Calendula is also known as pot marigold, annual or perennial herbaceous plants of about 12–20 species of genus Calendula, belonging to the family Asteraceae, native to Southern Europe.

The herbal plant has been used in traditional medicine as spasmolytic, spasmogenic, inflammatory effects and to treat abdominal cramps, wound healing, skin diseases, colitis, constipation, etc.

Besides major chemical constituents of triterpenoids, flavonoids, coumarines, quinones, volatile oil, carotenoids, and amino acids, the herb also contains loliolide (calendin), calendulin and n-paraffins.

In the concern that oxidative stress (OS) and nitric oxide mechanisms proposed in 3-nitropropionic acid (3-NP)-induced neurotoxicity, scientists at the Sree Siddaganga College of Pharmacy examined the antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and estrogenic effects of Calendula officinalis Linn. flower extract (COE) neuroprotective against the experimental model.

The study included numbers of rat induced neurotoxicity by the injection of 3-NP.


Observing behavioral changes, OS and striatal damage in rat brain suggested that neurotoxic rat was accompanied by significant alterations in animal behavior, oxidative defense system evidenced by raised levels of LPO and nitrite concentration, and depletion of antioxidant levels.

These examinations showed that 3-NP caused significant damage to the rat brain by increasing expression of free radicals and suppressing production of antioxidant enzymes by the host body.

The injection also enhanced the production of inflammatory cytokines which have a strong effect in the blood vessels constriction and the loss of neuronal cells in the striatal region


Application of the herbal extract significantly attenuated behavioral alterations, oxidative damage and striatal neuronal loss in 3-NP-treated animals.

These results showed that COE is protective against 3-NP-induced neurotoxicity in rats through its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and estrogenic properties.

With an aim to determine the effect of Calendula officinalis Linn. flower extract (COE) in the inhibition of excess monosodium glutamate (MSG), a popular flavor enhancer used in food industries in the induction of neurotoxicity, researchers conducted an experiment to evaluate the neuroprotective effect of COE on MSG-induced neurotoxicity in rats.


Adult Wistar rats selected to the study were administered systemically for 7 days with MSG and after one h of MSG injection before treated with COE (100 and 200 mg/kg) orally.


Before treated with COE, infected rat showed a significant alteration in animal behavior, oxidative defense (raised levels of LPO, nitrite concentration, depletion of antioxidant levels) and hippocampal neuronal histology.

These result indicated that MSG displays similar effects to those of 3-NP in facilitating the imbalance of the ratio of the free radicals and antioxidant enzymes in the tested rats.

Observation of the result after injection of COE, researchers found that COE only restores the balance of the free radicals and antioxidant ratio but also inhibits the death of neuron cells in the brain.


The neuroprotective effect of COE was attributed to the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, suggested by Dr. Shivasharan BD, the lead scientist.

Taken altogether, Herbal Calendula may be considered a functional herb for the prevention of neurotoxicity and an adjunct therapy combined with the primary medicine for the treatment of neuro diseases induced by toxicity.



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Author Biography
Kyle J. Norton (Scholar, Master of Nutrition, All right reserved)
Health article writer and researcher; Over 10.000 articles and research papers have been written and published online, including worldwide health, ezine articles, article base, health blogs, self-growth, best before it's news, the karate GB daily, etc.,.
Named TOP 50 MEDICAL ESSAYS FOR ARTISTS & AUTHORS TO READ by Disilgold.com Named 50 of the best health Tweeters Canada - Huffington Post
Nominated for shorty award over last 4 years
Some articles have been used as references in medical research, such as international journal Pharma and Bioscience, ISSN 0975-6299.


References
(1) Protective effect of Calendula officinalis Linn. flowers against 3-nitropropionic acid induced experimental Huntington's disease in rats by Shivasharan BD1, Nagakannan P, Thippeswamy BS, Veerapur VP, Bansal P, Unnikrishnan MK(PubMed)
(2) Protective Effect of Calendula officinalis L. Flowers Against Monosodium Glutamate Induced Oxidative Stress and Excitotoxic Brain Damage in Rats by Shivasharan BD, Nagakannan P, Thippeswamy BS, Veerapur VP(PubMed)