Anti-Alzheimer’s Activity of Methanolic Tender Green Pod Extract of Cyamopsis Tetragonoloba (L.) Taub. on Scopolamine Induced Amnesia in Mice

Abstract

Background: Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a chronic, and prevalent, neurodegenerative disease that leads to memory loss, especially in the elderly. AD is caused by a lack of acetylcholine in the brain and oxidative stress. The Cyamopsis tetragonoloba also known as Guar or cluster bean is a legume that belongs to the family Fabaceae. It is cheap, widely consumed as a seasoned vegetable, and reported to counteract chronic diseases linked to oxidative stress, such as diabetes, dyslipidemia, inflammation, and ulcer. Objective: The present study was undertaken to assess the anti-alzheimer’s activity of a tender green pod extract of Cyamopsis tetragonoloba on learning and memory impairment induced by scopolamine. Methods: The extract's total phenolic and flavonoid content was determined using a UV-visible spectrophotometer. The Cyamopsis tetragonoloba methanolic pod extract (CTMPE) at a dose of 100 and 200 mg/kg and donepezil 2.5 mg/kg was administered orally for 7 successive days. On the seventh day, a single intraperitoneal injection of scopolamine was used to induce dementia. The behavioral experiments included an elevated plus maze, step-through passive avoidance, radial arm maze, and Y-maze tests were conducted. The mice were sacrificed and acetylcholine, acetylcholinesterase, and oxidative stress markers were measured in brain homogenate. Results: The total phenolic and flavonoid content was found as 12.9 mg of GAE/g and 1.71 mg of QE/g respectively. Scopolamine caused memory deterioration, as well as changes in acetylcholine, acetylcholinesterase, and increased oxidative stress in the brain. Mice pretreatment with CTMPE at both doses attenuated scopolamine-induced behavioral, neurochemical, and oxidative changes in a similar way to donepezil. Conclusion: The CTMPE showed an anti-amnesic effect that makes it a promising candidate targeting multiple events as a potential strategy to curb the progression of cognitive impairment.