Neuroprotective efficacy of Nardostachys jatamansi and crocetin in conjunction with selenium in cognitive impairment

Oxidative stress leads to complex biochemical alterations, and has been implicated in the progressive loss of learning and memory. Supplementing and boosting the endogenous antioxidant defense system could impede the progression of various types of neurodegeneration. In the present study, we have investigated the neuroprotective efficacy of a low-dose combination of certain promising and powerful natural antioxidants in an experimental model of cognitive impairment. Combined pretreatment with the extract of Nardosatchys jatamansi (N), crocetin (C) and selenium (Se) as sodium selenite (N, 200 mg/kg + C, 25 μg/kg + Se, 0.05 mg/kg body weight) for 15 days led to improved behavioral outcomes in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced cognitive impairment in rats. While intracerebroventricular (ICV) infusion of STZ resulted in the significant elevation of markers of oxidative stress and depletion of endogenous antioxidant defense system in the vehicle-pretreated group, these markers of oxidative stress and antioxidant enzymatic as well as non-enzymatic defense lines were attenuated in the group pretreated with the combination of antioxidants (NCSe). NCSe pretreatment markedly improved the performance of animals in passive avoidance test and Morris water maze (MWM) tasks, significantly reduced the level of TBARS, and elevated the content of glutathione and activities of antioxidant enzymes (glutathione peroxidase, glutathione-S-transferase and catalase). Our study reflects the synergistic potential of the above combination and concludes that a multimodal approach could be beneficial rather than a singular intervention.