This study aimed to appraise the anti-Parkinson's potential of
rhinacanthin-C (RC). RC (5, 10, and 20 mg/kg) was orally administered for 25 days in albino mice to treat
haloperidol-induced
parkinsonism (1 mg/kg). RC significantly (p < .05) improved the motor symptoms in block, bar, rotarod, and balance beam walking tests in treated mice. RC reduced the cataleptic effect dose-dependently. The RC
therapy notably (p < .001) enhanced
reduced glutathione,
catalase, and
superoxide dismutase levels while decreased
malondialdehyde and
nitrite levels in the tissue homogenates of the treated mice. The RC
therapy significantly (p < .01-.001) restored the
dopamine,
norepinephrine, and
serotonin levels in the brain tissue of treated mice as co-evidenced from brain histology. RC did not adversely affect complete blood count, and liver and kidney function tests. Taken together, these results have shown that RC is effective in treating motor and non-motor symptoms of
Parkinson's disease. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: Rhinacanthus nasutus is a medicinally rich plant that has folklore use in several ailments. The plant possessed multiple pharmacological activities due to the presence of
naphthoquinones. The major compound of this plant
rhinacanthin-C was used in the present study to evaluate it's anti-Parkinson's activity. The results provide scientific evidence of the anti-Parkinson's potential of
rhinacanthin-C that support the use of R. nasutus leaves in the prevention and treatment of Parkinson's disorder.