Potential of the Hydroethanolic Extract of Lannea microcarpa’s Fruit on Oxidative Stress Induced Alzheimer’s Disease
Geradin Joel Tagne Tueguem
Research Unit of Biochemistry, Medicinal Plants, Food Sciences and Nutrition, Department of Biochemistry, University of Dschang, Dschang, Cameroon.
Hermine Tsafack Doungue
Research Unit of Biochemistry, Medicinal Plants, Food Sciences and Nutrition, Department of Biochemistry, University of Dschang, Dschang, Cameroon.
Aurelie Dahlia Yemeli Piankeu
Research Unit of Microbiology and Antimicrobial Substances, Faculty of Science, University of Dschang, Dschang, Cameroon.
Josias Djenguemtar
Research Unit of Microbiology and Antimicrobial Substances, Faculty of Science, University of Dschang, Dschang, Cameroon and Department of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Science, Faculty of Health Science, University Adam Barka d’Abéché, BP: 1173, Chad.
Michel Pegui Kemtsop
Research Unit of Biochemistry, Medicinal Plants, Food Sciences and Nutrition, Department of Biochemistry, University of Dschang, Dschang, Cameroon.
Anne Pascale Nouemsi Kengne *
Research Unit of Biochemistry, Medicinal Plants, Food Sciences and Nutrition, Department of Biochemistry, University of Dschang, Dschang, Cameroon and Laboratory of Nutrition and Nutritional Biochemistry, Department of Biochemistry, University of Yaounde I, Yaounde, Cameroon.
Donatien Gatsing
Research Unit of Microbiology and Antimicrobial Substances, Faculty of Science, University of Dschang, Dschang, Cameroon.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Background: Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the commonest neurodegenerative disease affecting about 33 million of people worldwide, with no efficient cure so far. Many studies have reported oxidative stress (OS) as an important factor involved in AD physiopathology. The imbalance between the production of prooxidants and antioxidant defense mechanisms, favours an overproduction of reactive oxygen species (ROS) which bring about brain cell impairment and nerve impulse transmission disruption, leading to memory loss. This work was aimed at evaluating the neuroprotective activity of Lannea microcarpa’s fruit on oxidative stress induced Alzheimer’s disease rat model.
Method: Total phenolic, flavonoid and tannins contents, and antioxidant activity using DPPH scavenging and FRAP tests; were determined in the fruit extract. 28 female rats of 6 months were used. AlCl3 at 10 mg/kg was administered four times per week by intraperitoneal injection during 7 weeks. Morris water maze and eight arms radial maze tests were performed to assess animal behaviour. Total proteins, catalase activity, malondialdehyde, nitrite, reduced glutathione, and acetylcholinesterase activity were determined. Brain histopathological analysis was also performed.
Results: The quantitative analysis of secondary metabolites revealed the presence of phenols (40.961 ± 0.003 mg GAE/g extract), flavonoids (22.381 ± 0.003 mg CE/g extract), and tannins (10.64 ± 0.16 mg TAE/g extract) in the extract. Antioxidant activity was determined by the capacity to scavenge DPPH radical (94.739 ± 0.207 %), and to reduce ferric ion (0.894 ± 0.036 mmol Fe2+/ g extract). The administration of Lannea microcarpa’s fruit extract to rats decreased the escape latency in the Morris water maze, and the time to visit the maze’s arms in the eight arms radial maze (EARM). It also increased catalase activity; but lowered malondialdehyde, nitrite and acetylcholinesterase activity, and prevented lesions in the brain.
Conclusion: The fruit’s extract showed a significant effect on oxidative stress biomarkers and acetylcholinesterase actitivity. Lannea microcarpa’s fruit could therefore be targeted as neuroprotective regarding its anti-acetylcholinesterase property.
Keywords: Lannea microcarpa, Alzheimer’s disease, antioxidant activity, neuroprotective activity