Proanthocyanidins-Rich Fraction of Tamarindus Indica Maintained Redox Status of Environmental Toxicant-Induced Genotoxicity in Drosophila Melanogaster

Abstract

Proanthocyanidin, a bioactive polyphenolic component of tamarin (Tamarindus indica L.), offers neuroprotective benefits with insufficient scientific evidence. This study evaluated the behavioral and molecular effect of proanthocyanidin-rich fraction on the gene expression level of antioxidant and aging enzymes in Drosophila melanogaster. The fruit flies were fed with the fraction at 1.5 and 2.5 mg/g diet for seven days, followed by exposure to 0.1 µg/g diet lead oxide for equivalent days. Negative geotaxis and survival assays were conducted on the flies. The expression level of phase II antioxidant enzymes and acetylcholinesterase were evaluated using rt-PCR to assess proanthocyanidin’s protection level and mechanism in Pb-induced neurotoxic D. melanogaster. The results show that the proanthocyanidins-rich fraction enhanced locomotor activity and the rate of emergence of flies even in the presence of eco-toxicant. The fraction also mitigated the harmful effect of Pb via the activity of catalase and superoxide dismutase, as evidenced by the increase in the expression levels of the catalase and SOD genes in the noxious environment. Thus, the study provides insights into understanding the neuroprotection mechanism of proanthocyanidins-rich fraction against lead-induced neurotoxicity in D. melanogaster, which could be translated to humans when explored further.