World Journal of
Pharmaceutical and Life Sciences

AMELIORATIVE ROLE OF PORTULACA OLERACEA AGAINST ROTENONE-INDUCED OXIDATIVE STRESS AND NEUROBEHAVIORAL ALTERATIONS IN BLACK MOLLY

*Najnin Aslam Patel

ABSTRACT

Parkinson’s disease (PD) pathology is closely linked to mitochondrial complex-I dysfunction, excessive reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation, and subsequent oxidative damage. Rotenone, a potent lipophilic pesticide, reliably reproduces these mechanistic hallmarks across vertebrate toxicology models. The present investigation evaluated the neuroprotective efficacy of Portulaca oleracea extract against rotenone-induced oxidative and behavioral impairments in Poecilia sphenops. Adult fish were exposed to rotenone (2 mg/L) to induce mitochondrial inhibition and redox imbalance. Neurobehavioral alterations—including reduced locomotor velocity, increased freezing duration, and altered surface interaction—were quantified using standardized behavioral assays. Biochemical analyses focused on hepatic and neural lipid peroxidation, quantified as malondialdehyde (MDA). Rotenone elicited a marked elevation in MDA levels (liver: 10.92 ± 1.17; brain: 14.78 ± 1.26 nmol/mg tissue) relative to controls (2.84 ± 0.92 and 5.41 ± 1.08 nmol/mg, respectively), confirming substantial oxidative burden. Co-administration of P. oleracea significantly attenuated lipid peroxidation, reducing hepatic and brain MDA concentrations to 5.36 ± 1.03 and 7.89 ± 0.98 nmol/mg. Behavioral deficits induced by rotenone were similarly mitigated. The phytochemical profile of P. oleracea—rich in omega-3 fatty acids, phenolic antioxidants, flavonoids, and vitamins—likely contributed to suppression of ROS generation, stabilization of membrane lipids, and partial restoration of neuronal function. These findings provide strong evidence that P. oleracea exerts significant antioxidative and neuroprotective effects in a rotenone-based PD model, supporting its utility as a complementary therapeutic candidate and its relevance in aquatic neurotoxicology research.

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