Mitigation of Lead Neurotoxicity by Aqueous Fruit Extract of Adansonia digitata in Adult Wistar Rats

Aim: The current study seeks to explore the neuroprotective benefits of Adansonia digitata against lead induced memory impairment, neurotransmitter/AChE activity imbalance, oxidative stress as well as brain damage.

Methodology: Thirty male adult rats weighing 160g-200g were divided randomly into six groups (I-V1) consisting of five (5) rats in each group. Group I served as control and were administered with distilled water (1 ml/kg) only while groups II -VI were treatment groups. Group II were administered 250 mg/kg of Adansonia digitata; group III were administered 30 mg/kg of lead; Group IV were administered 250 mg/kg of Adansonia digitata plus 30 mg/kg of lead; Group V were administered 500 mg/kg of Adansonia digitata plus 30 mg/kg of lead; Group VI were administered 30 mg/kg of lead plus 10 mg/kg of succimer. All administrations were carried out through oral gavage for a period of 28 days.

Results: Lead administration caused memory impairment, decreased dopamine concentration and AChE activity in brain, induced oxidative stress resulting in brain damage. Adansonia digitata treatment significantly (P<.001) attenuated memory impairment, modulated dopamine concentration and AChE activity, prevented oxidative stress and ameliorated histopathological changes in the brain of Wistar rats.

Conclusion: The result showed that Adansonia digitata ameliorates lead-induced memory impairment in Wistar rats by improving memory index, controlling dopamine concentration and AChE activity, preventing oxidative stress and neuronal degeneration.