Sunset yellow induced neuronal damage; Protected by Vernonia cinerea

Objective: The study was designed to screen the protective effect of Vernonia cinerea extract against sunset yellow induced anxiogenic behaviour in mice through counteracting oxidative damage.Methods: The anxiogenic effect was induced by the administration of sunset yellow (20 mg/kg, p.o) for 30 days. Ethanol extract of Vernonia cinerea (EEVC) (400 mg/kg, p.o) administered, after 1 hour of sunset yellow treatment. Diazepam (1 mg/kg, p.o) was used as a reference drug.Results: FT-IR studies of the extract were done to determine the presence of phenols and flavonoids. Vernonia cinerea significantly improved the altered anxiogenic behaviour of sunset yellow treated animals. Significant increase in the brain antioxidant enzymes level and neurotransmitter Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) level and decrease the lipid peroxidation and glutamate was observed in Vernonia cinerea treated group and also this extract reversed the hippocampus CA3 region abnormalities such as perivascular edema and hemorrhage in sunset yellow group. Conclusion: The Vernonia cinerea possesses significant antioxidant, antiradical, and GABA enhancing effects against sunset yellow-induced anxiogenic animals.