Scholars International Journal of Traditional and Complementary Medicine (SIJTCM)
Volume-8 | Issue-10 | 259-264
Original Research Article
Neuro-Protective Influence of Lutein on Haloperidol-Induced Parkinson Disease in Wistar Rats
Austin A. Ajah, Precious C. Eton, Chike CPR
Published : Nov. 27, 2025
Abstract
Parkinson's Disease (PD) is a debilitating neurodegenerative disorder characterized by motor deficits and dopaminergic neuron degeneration. Haloperidol, a widely used antipsychotic, has been reported to induce parkinsonism-like symptoms in animal models. This study investigates the potential neuroprotective effects of lutein, a carotenoid with antioxidant properties, against haloperidol-induced Parkinson's disease in Wistar rats. A total of Thirty (30) healthy Wistar rats weighing between 100 -150g were used for this study. The rats were acclimatized and divided into six groups (n=5 per group); Group 1 (Control), Group 2 (Haloperidol group), Group 3 (Haloperidol + 20mg/kg of lutein), Group 4 (Haloperidol + 40mg/kg of lutein), Group 5 (Haloperidol + 60mg/kg of lutein) and Group 6 (Haloperidol + donepezil group). Motor deficits were assessed using behavioral tests like Barnes maze test, hand grip test, rotarod test and Y maze test. While biochemical analyses were performed to evaluate oxidative stress markers. The results demonstrated that rats treated with haloperidol alone had a significantly higher latency compared to the control group. This suggests that haloperidol negatively impacted spatial learning and memory, as indicated by the increased time taken to find the target. Lutein, especially at 40mg/kg and 60mg/kg, as well as the standard drug donepezil were seen to have neuroprotective effects against the spatial learning and memory deficits induced by haloperidol in Wistar rats. This study showed that Haloperidol induced both the motor symptoms such as muscle rigidity and also the non-motor symptoms of Parkinson disease such as anxiety, oxidative stress, and impaired memory on the rats and lutein possesses a dose-dependent increase in learning ability and cognitive functions and decrease in oxidative stress and fatigue.