ANTIOXIDANT PROPERTIES OF DICHROCEPHALA INTEGRIFOLIA (ASTERACEAE) IN A MOUSE MODEL OF MONOSODIUM GLUTAMATE-INDUCED NEUROTOXICITY

Authors

  • Kouémou Emégam Nadège
  • Dongmo Nguepi Mireille Sylviane
  • Fotio Lambou Agathe
  • Moto Okomolo Fleur Clarisse
  • Taiwe Sotoing Germain
  • Pahaye Bougolla David
  • Pale Simon
  • Njapdounke Kameni Jacqueline Stephanie
  • Ngo Bum Elisabeth

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.21010/ajtcam.v14i5.18

Keywords:

Neurotoxicity, Glutamate, Dichrocephala integrifolia, antioxidantNeurotoxicity, antioxidant

Abstract

Background: In Africa, neurodegenerative diseases in the elderly have become a major health concern due to the increase in live expectancy. Glutamate mediated neurotoxicity is involved in neurodegenerative diseases such as Ischemia, Epilepsy, Alzheimer’s and Parkinson diseases. Plants with antioxidant properties are reported to protect vital organs against glutamate toxicity. This study aims to assess the effect of Dichrocephala integrifolia against monosodium glutamatemediated neurotoxicity and oxidative stress. Methodology: The decoction prepared from the leaves of Dichrocephala integrifolia was evaluated against monosodium glutamate-induced neurotoxicity in mice. The animals were grouped in seven groups of 6 animals each. The animals received daily; distilled water (p.o) for the distilled water and the negative control groups, one of the four doses of the decoction of the plant (35, 87.5, 175 or 350 mg/kg p.o) for the tests groups and memantine (20 mg/kg p.o) for the positive control group. Monosodium glutamate (2.5 g/kg ip) was injected daily to animals except those of the normal control group all the seven days of the experimentation. Animals were observed for aggressiveness, locomotor and forepaws muscle grip activities 30 min after monosodium injections. Brain reduced glutathione and malondialdehyde levels were also assessed following the behavioral tests on day 8. Results: The decoction of Dichrocephala integrifolia at the doses of 87.5 and 175 mg/kg significantly (p<0.01) inhibited the aggressiveness of monosodium treated mice, significantly (p<0.01) counteracted the reduction in locomotor and forepaws muscle grip capacity induced by monosodium glutamate. Furthermore, the decreases in reduced glutathione level and increases in lipid peroxidation level induced by monosodium glutamate were significantly (p<0.001) reversed by Dichrocephala integrifolia at the doses of 87.5 and 175 mg/kg. Conclusion: The results of this study reveal that Dichrocephala integrifolia is a medicinal plant that protects the brain against monosodium glutamate-mediated neurotoxicity. This can explain why this plant is intensively used in folk medicine in Cameroon to prevent and treat some central nervous system illnesses.

Author Biographies

Kouémou Emégam Nadège

Department of Zoology and Animal Physiology, Faculty of Science, University of Buea, P.O. Box 63, Buea, Cameroon.

Dongmo Nguepi Mireille Sylviane

Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Buea, PO Box 63 Buea, Cameroon.

Fotio Lambou Agathe

Department of Zoology and Animal Physiology, Faculty of Science, University of Buea, P.O. Box 63, Buea, Cameroon.

Moto Okomolo Fleur Clarisse

Department of Biological Sciences, Higher Teacher's Training College, University of Yaoundé I, P.O. Box 47, Yaounde, Cameroon

Taiwe Sotoing Germain

Department of Zoology and Animal Physiology, Faculty of Science, University of Buea, P.O. Box 63, Buea, Cameroon.

Pahaye Bougolla David

Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Ngaoundéré, P.O. Box 454, Ngaoundéré, Cameroon.

Pale Simon

Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Ngaoundéré, P.O. Box 454, Ngaoundéré, Cameroon.

Njapdounke Kameni Jacqueline Stephanie

Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Ngaoundéré, P.O. Box 454, Ngaoundéré, Cameroon.

Ngo Bum Elisabeth

of Mines and Petroleum Industries of Maroua, University of Maroua, P.O. Box 08, Kaélé

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Published

2017-10-01

How to Cite

Nadège, K. E., Sylviane, D. N. M., Agathe, F. L., Clarisse, M. O. F., Germain, T. S., David, P. B., Simon, P., Stephanie, N. K. J., & Elisabeth, N. B. (2017). ANTIOXIDANT PROPERTIES OF DICHROCEPHALA INTEGRIFOLIA (ASTERACEAE) IN A MOUSE MODEL OF MONOSODIUM GLUTAMATE-INDUCED NEUROTOXICITY. African Journal of Traditional, Complementary and Alternative Medicines, 14(5), 147–155. https://doi.org/10.21010/ajtcam.v14i5.18

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Section

Research Papers

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