Arbutin is a bioactive hydroquinone glucoside obtained from Arctostaphyllosuvaursi, it is known for its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, which provide neuroprotective action against brain disorders [17, 18]. The present study shows arbutin has the ability to protect SH-SY5Y cells from the neurotoxicity induced by haloperidol. The earlier study revealed that haloperidol treatment increases the reactive oxygen species that induce mitochondrial dysfunction, leading to the death of SH-SY5Y cells [7, 21]. In this investigation, SH-SY5Y cells treated with haloperidol (1mM) reduced cell viability, indicating cell death; however, arbutin (5,10,15, and 20 M) treated cells significantly increased cell viability and reduced cell death when compared to haloperidol treated cells. These findings indicate that arbutin has the potential to reduce neurotoxicity by providing neuroprotection against haloperidol-induced neuronal death. These findings indicate that arbutin has the potential to reduce neurotoxicity by providing neuroprotection against haloperidol-induced neuronal cell death.
The present study employed a haloperidol-induced experimental rat model to investigate behavioral and biochemical changes in rats presenting TD-like symptoms [10]. The haloperidol (1 mg/kg) treated group caused a significant increase in VCMs, tongue protrusion, and facial jerking in TD rats, similar to that observed in patients taking antipsychotic medication [31]. While arbutin (50 and 100 mg/kg) has the potential to reverse the orofacial dysfunctions in haloperidol-treated rats. Evidence from prior research suggests that antipsychotic treatment like haloperidol enhances the generation of free radicals, which is associated with hyperkinetic movement[32]. Furthermore, another study revealed that arbutin administration exerted a neuroprotective effect by improving motor function in MPTP-treated rats. Their results revealed that arbutin has the potential to reverse motor abnormalities [33]. In this experiment, arbutin showed a significant increase in muscular coordination observed by using rotarod, locomotor activity by using an actophotometer, and gait abnormality by using the narrow beam walk test as compared to haloperidol-treated rats.
Furthermore, several studies have found that haloperidol treatment causes dopamine receptor hypersensitivity by inhibiting the dopamine D2 receptors specifically located in the striatum. As a result, there is an increase in oxidative stress that leads to neurodegeneration [5, 34]. Another study reported higher levels of free radical formation in TD patients compared to those who do not have the illness [35]. According to the report, arbutin has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties which provide a neuroprotective effect against various neurodegenerative disorders [18, 19]. The present study found that arbutin treatment substantially reduced the MDA and nitrite levels in rats treated with haloperidol. The increase in MDA showed the formation of lipid peroxidation, which is associated with TD pathogenesis. Previous study outcomes suggested that arbutin treatment has the potential to decrease MDA and nitrite in rat brains treated with streptozotocin [36].
Additionally, prolonged treatment with antipsychotic drugs altered the antioxidant enzyme activity and imbalanced the oxidative stress that is responsible for the progression of TD [5]. Furthermore, another study found that arbutin has the potential to enhance the antioxidant enzyme activity by stimulating the Nrf2/HO-1 signaling pathway, which is responsible for the transcription of several antioxidant enzymes that provide neuroprotection against isolectin-induced multiple sclerosis in rats [37]. In the current study, the arbutin treatment showed a considerable increase in antioxidant enzymes such as SOD, GSH, and catalase levels in the striatum region of rats in comparison with haloperidol-treated rats. This result indicates that arbutin can halt the pathogenesis of TD. Moreover, the prior researcher observed that the long-term arbutin treatment inhibit the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α and IL-1β) showing neuroprotection against MPTP-treated PD rats [18]. Furthermore, other research evidence revealed that prolonged antipsychotic treatment impaired the production of inflammatory markers that lead to the degeneration of striatal neurons, which is linked to the pathogenesis of TD [38]. In this research, arbutin treatment significantly reduced the TNF-α and IL-1β levels in the striatum, which was found to be increased in haloperidol-treated rats. The study outcomes indicate that arbutin has a neuroprotective potential that reduces the behavioural and biochemical abnormalities in haloperidol induced TD rats. The present study indicates that arbutin has a neuroprotective effect; arbutin ameliorates the behaviour deficit in haloperidol-induced TD in rats. Besides that, arbutin administrations restored the antioxidant enzyme levels, alleviating oxidative stress and decreasing the pro-inflammatory cytokine levels in the rat’s brain and thereby providing a reason for arbutin could be used in the treatment of TD. The outcomes indicate that arbutin could be a better option to treat TD-like symptoms. Nevertheless, cellular and molecular studies are needed to explore and verify the potential neuroprotective mechanism of arbutin.