NEURO-PROTECTIVE EFFECTS AND ANTI-STRESS PROPERTIES OF HOT-WATER TEA INFUSIONS OF LEONURUS CARDIACA LINN (MOTHERWORT TEA) AND CRATAEGUS MONOGYNA JACG (HAWTHORNE TEA) IN MALE ALBINO RATS

Abstract

Synthetic drugs such as benzodiapenes and cyclo oxygenase inhibitors have been known as an effective treatment of stress disorders, however, most of these drugs can also bring about undesirable side effects.Recently, the search of natural therapeutic agents with low adverse effects has attracted much attention. This study focused on evaluating the antioxidant activities, neuro-protective potentials, validate the anti -stress effect and assess kidney and liver biochemical markers after administration of Leonurus cardiaca and Crataegusmonogyna.and toinvestigate the safety of the two natural products. The study showed thatHawthorne tea (Crataegus monogyna) and Motherwort tea (Leonurus cardiaca)teas possess a measure of antioxidant activities, with Harwthorn tea ranking high. The result of the liver and kidney biomarkers revealed that the various concentrations of the studied tea samples show no significant damage to the hepatocytes as the values obtained from the biochemical investigation fell within the reference ranges. Post-treatment rats subjected to chronic stress Hawthorne tea (Crataegus monogyna) and Motherwort tea (Leonurus cardiaca) teas, and upon the assessment some behavioral parameters (open field test, light dark box elevated plus maze test social interaction test), that two tested modulate pattern studied animals Hawthorn result this investigation evaluated parameters, without adverse effect on liver kidney. Therefore, could serve as potent nutraceutical, most especially Hawthorn, in management other related diseases. Keywords: Crataegus monogyna (Hawthorn), Leonurus cardiaca (Motherwort), stress, medicinal plants