Ethanol extract of Thaumatococcus Danielli leaves mitigates Scopolamine-induced Behavioural and morphological changes in the Prefrontal cortex of Wistar rats

 Okeniran Olatayo Segun1,2, Aja Ifeanyi Gideon3, Adeyemi Babatunde Samuel1, Ajayi Samuel Ademola1
Ajibade Adeshina John2, Onaolapo Adejoke Yetunde2,4 

1. Department of Anatomy, McPherson University, Ogun State Nigeria 

2. Department of Anatomy, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso, Oyo State, Nigeria.

3. Department of Anatomy, Eko University of Medicine and Health Sciences Nigeria 

4. Behavioural Neuroscience and Neurobiology Unit, Department of Anatomy, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso, Oyo State, Nigeria 

ABSTRACT 

The antioxidant potential of ethanol extract of Thaumatococcus danielli (T. danielli) leaves has been reported severally, however, there is a dearth of scientific information on its effect on scopolamine-induced changes in the rat prefrontal cortex. This study assessed the neuroprotective potential of ethanolic extract of Thaumatococcus danielli leaves on scopolamine induced neurotoxicity in rats. Eighty (80) adult Wistar rats weighing 180-200g were randomly divided into eight groups of 10 rats each. Group A was administered distilled water orally (10 ml/kg) and intraperitoneally (2ml /kg), groups B and C were administered T. danielli alone at 100 and 200 mg/respectively, while rats in group D received donepezil at 5mg/kg. Rats in group E received intraperitoneal (i.p) injection of scopolamine at 16 mg/kg, while groups F and G were administered scopolamine with T. danielli respectively. Rats in group H received scopolamine and donepezil. Scopolamine was administered daily for three days while T. danielli and donepezil was administered for 42 days At the end of treatment, rats were exposed to behavioural paradigms (Open field box and elevated plus maze). Twenty-four hours after the last behavioural test rats were euthanised and their brains removed a prefrontal cortex was sectioned and processed for general histology. Results showed that scopolamine was associated with decrease in weight, reduction in feed intake, anxiety-related behaviours and prefrontal cortex neurotoxicity. While the administration of ethanol extract of Thaumatococcus danielli leaves was associated with reversal of weight loss, increased feed intake anxiolysis and reversal of scopolamine induced neurotoxicity. In conclusion, this study shows that T. danielli has the ability to ameliorate scopolamine induced changes. However more studies are required to ascertain its suitability in humans.  

KEYWORDS: Amnesia; Cognition; Dementia; Herbal Extracts, Saponins, Flavonoids