Neurobehavioural Enhancement in Scopolamine Hydrobromide-Induced Alzheimer Type Cognitive Dysfunction in Rats Following Administration of Ethanol Seed Extract of Telfairia occidentalis (Hook.f.) Cucurbitaceae

Abstract

Cognitive dysfunction including Alzheimer's disease (AD) and other neurodegenerative disorders are major health problem which are debilitating in nature. 1,2 The global prevalence of dementia in adults aged >60 years ranged from 5 to 7% with AD as the most common type followed by vascular dementia. 3,4 There are scarce and conflicting reports on the prevalence of dementia with far-reaching implications on the public health policies in the sub-Saharan Africa. 3,5,6 In Nigeria, incidence of dementia and Alzheimer's in the Yoruba Africans is two to three times less, compared to the African Americans. 7 However, cases of dementia increased by 400% over the past 20 years such as from 1995-2015. 8 Research also revealed gender difference on the incidence of AD in which two thirds of patients with AD are women, raising the intriguing suggestions that there are biological mechanisms underlying the higher incidence of AD in women. 9 Neuroprotection refers to strategies and mechanisms able to defend the central nervous system against neuronal injury due to acute stroke or trauma including chronic neurodegenerative disorders. 10

Scopolamine-Induced Alzheimer’s Disease in Wistar Rats: Aqueous Talinum Triangulare Potency on the Hippocampal Nissl Bodies and Long-Term Learning and Memory

“…This result showed that the treated groups showed intact spatial working memory. This means that the extracts possess the potentials that can enhance learning and memory in rats, however, this is in line with Eru et al, Rabiei et 13,15,16,50,52,53,61,13,54,57…”

“…31,32,58,8 It diminishes cerebral blood flow due to cholinergic hypofunction. 58,59 This pharmacological agent triggers oxidants, causes free oxidant injury and increases brain malondealdehyde (MDA) levels and depletion of antioxidant status in a scopolamine-treated group 23,13,28 and has been proven to elevate the status of amyloid precursor proteins and tau proteins. Scopolamine treatment leads to marked histological distortions in the cerebral cortex including neuronal degeneration 3 and new drugs for Alzheimer's disease were evaluated using scopolamine induced dementia humans and animals.…”

The Effect of Averrhoa carambola (Star Fruit) Aqueous Fruit Extract on the Hippocampal Astrocyte Expression Following Diazepam-Induced Neurotoxicity in Wistar Rats

“…The ameliorative potentials of the aqueous fruit extract may be due to its antioxidant properties which is in line with studies where T. Occidentalis has the potential to ameliorate hippocampal microstructure as well as enhance learning and memory in scopolamine hydrobromide-induced Alzheimer's type cognitive dysfunction in rats and this was also attributed to its high antioxidant components. 32,33…”

Hippocampal Astrogliotic Reduction in Scopolamine Hydrobromide-Induced Alzheimer’s Type Cognitive Dysfunction Wistar Rats Following Administration of Aqueous Extract of Telfairia Occidentalis (pumpkin) seeds.

“…The plant is characterised with pharmacological activities such as antioxidants, antidiabetic, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory and antifungal effects (Nkosi et al, 2006). Pumpkin seeds have been documented to possess neuroprotective effects and enhanced learning and memory (Eru et al, 2020;2021).…”