NEUROPROTECTIVE

Excessive exposure to Manganese chloride (MnCl2) has been shown to induce neurotoxicity, particularly within the cerebellum, due to oxidative stress and neuronal degeneration. The cerebellum’s high metabolic activity and synaptic density make it especially vulnerable to heavy metal accumulation and oxidative injury.Gongronema latifolium (Utazi leaf), a tropical West African herb rich in flavonoids, saponins, and alkaloids, has demonstrated antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties in experimental studies. This study was aimed at investigating the neuroprotective effects of aqueous leaf extract of Gongronema latifolium against Manganese chloride induced cerebellar toxicity in adult wistar rats. Forty-eight (48) adult wistar rats were used in this study. They were randomly divided into six groups (n=8) and treated for 28 days as follows: Group A served as control and received 1mL of distilled water, Group B received 10mg/kg of Mncl2, Group C received 100mg/kg of aqueous leaf extract of Gongronema latifolium and 10mg/kg of Mncl2, Group D received 200mg/kg of aqueous leaf extract of Gongronema latifolium and 10mg/kg of Mncl2, Group E received 100mg/kg of aqueous leaf extract of Gongronema latifolium and rats in Group F received 200mg/kg of aqueous leaf extract of Gongronema latifolium. Administration of aqueous leaf extract of Gongronema latifolium was done orally, using an orogastric tube while the administration of Manganese chloride was done via intraperitoneal injection for 28 days respectively. At the end of administration, the neurobehavioral activity was evaluated using the open field and Y-maze tests. The rats were sacrificed by cervical dislocation and the organ (cerebellum) was harvested. This organ was further analyzed for antioxidant enzymes activity, lipid peroxidation and histopathological changes. Graphpad prism softaware was used for all statistical analysis and data was expressed as mean with standard error of mean (SEM). Results obtained showed no significant change (p> 0.05) in the initial body weight and final body weight. A significant decrease (p< 0.05) was observed in the weight change of rats in group B ( 10mg/kg b.wt of Mncl2) when compared to control, however a significant increase was observed in the weight change groups of C and D when compared to B. No significant change (p> 0.05) was observed in the cerebellar and relative cerebellar weight of rats across experimental groups. A significant decrease (p< 0.05) was observed in cerebellar SOD, CAT, GPx AND GSH activity of rats in group B (10mg/kg b.wt. MnCl2)when compared to the control. However, a significant increase (p< 0.05) was observed in cerebellar SOD, CAT, GPx and GSH activity of rats in group C and D when compared to group B. A significant increase (p<0.05) was observed in MDA concentration of rats in group B (10mg/kg b.wt. MncCl2) when compared to control. However, a significant decrease was observed in group C and D when compared to B. Histological anaylsis revealed cerebellar degeneration in rats exposed to Mncl2. However, administration of aqueous leaf extract of Gongronema latifolium mitigated the adverse effects induced by manganese chloride. In conclusion,findings from this study shows that Gongronema latifolium leaf
extract mitigated cerebellar damage caused by MnCl2 exposure.