Background: This study explored the efficacy of kolaviron—a biflavonoid complex isolatedfrom the seeds of Garcinia kola—in protecting against cuprizone (CPZ)-induced demyelination inboth the prefrontal cortex and the hippocampus of Wistar rats.Methodology: Thirty rats were treated to receive 0.5 mL phosphate-buffered saline (groupA, control), 0.5 mL corn oil (group B), 0.2% CPZ (group C), for 6 weeks, 0.2% CPZ for 3 weeks andthen 200 mg/kg of Kv for 3 weeks (group D), or 200 mg/kg of Kv for 3 weeks followed by 0.2%CPZ for 3 weeks (group E). Rats were assessed for exploratory functions and anxiety-like behaviourbefore being euthanised and perfused transcardially with 4% paraformaldehyde. Prefrontal andhippocampal thin sections were stained in hematoxylin and eosin and cresyl fast violet stains.Results: CPZ-induced demyelination resulted in behavioural impairment as seen byreduced exploratory activities, rearing behaviour, stretch attend posture, center square entry,and anxiogenic characteristics. Degenerative changes including pyknosis, karyorrhexis, neuronalhypertrophy, and reduced Nissl integrity were also seen. Animals treated with Kv showedsignificant improvement in behavioural outcomes and a comparatively normal cytoarchitecturalprofile.Conclusion: Kv provides protective roles against CPZ-induced neurotoxicity throughprevention of ribosomal protein degradation.

Cuprizone is a neurotoxin with copper-chelating ability used in animal model of multiple sclerosis in which oxidative stress has been documented as one of the cascade in the pathogenesis. Moringa oleifera is a phytomedicinal plant with antioxidant and neuroprotective properties. This study aimed at evaluating the ameliorative capability of M. oleifera in cuprizone-induced behavioral and histopathological alterations in the prefrontal cortex and hippocampus of Wistar rats. Four groups of rats were treated with normal saline, cuprizone, M. oleifera and a combination of M. oleifera and cuprizone, for five weeks. The rats were subjected to Morris water maze and Y-maze to assess long and short-term memory respectively. The animals were sacrificed, and brain tissues were removed for histochemical and enzyme lysate immunosorbent assay for catalase, superoxide dismutase, and nitric oxide. Cuprizone significantly induced oxidative and nitrosative stress coupled with memory decline and cortico-hippocampal neuronal deficits; however, administration of M. oleifera significantly reversed the neuropathological deficits induced by cuprizone.
Animals ; Brain ; Catalase ; Cuprizone ; Hippocampus ; Memory* ; Memory, Short-Term ; Models, Animal* ; Moringa oleifera ; Moringa* ; Multiple Sclerosis* ; Neurons ; Nitric Oxide ; Oxidative Stress ; Plants ; Prefrontal Cortex ; Rats* ; Rats, Wistar ; Superoxide Dismutase ; Water

Cymbopogon citratus is a tropical phytomedicinal plant that is widely known for its hypoglycemic, hypolipidemic, anxiolytic, sedative, antioxidative and anti-inflammatory properties. In this study, we have examined the neuroprotective effects of the essential oil (ESO) of Cymbopogon citratus, following aluminum chloride (AlCl3)-induced neurotoxicity within the cerebellum of Wistar rats. A total of 40 adult male Wistar rats were assigned into five groups and treated orally as follows: A–phosphate-buffered saline (1 ml daily for 15 days); B–ESO (50 mg/kg daily for 15 days); C–AlCl3 (100 mg/kg daily for 15 days); D–AlCl3 then ESO (100 mg/kg AlCl3 daily for 15 days followed by 50 mg/kg ESO daily for subsequent 15 days); E– ESO then AlCl3 (50 mg/kg ESO daily for 15 days followed by 100 mg/kg AlCl3 daily for following 15 days). To address our questions, we observed the locomotion and exploratory behavior of the rats in the open field apparatus and subsequently evaluated cerebellar oxidative redox parameters, neural bioenergetics, acetylcholinesterase levels, transferrin receptor protein, and total protein profiles by biochemical assays. Furthermore, we investigated cerebellar histomorphology and Nissl profile by H&E and Cresyl violet Nissl staining procedures. ESO treatment markedly attenuated deficits in exploratory activities and rearing behavior following AlCl3 toxicity, indicating its anxiolytic potentials. Additionally, AlCl3 evokedincrease in malondialdehyde and nitric oxide levels, as well as repressed cerebellar catalase, glutathione peroxidase, and superoxide dismutase profiles were normalised to baseline levels by ESO treatment. Treatment with ESO, ergo, exhibits substantial neuroprotective and modulatory potentials in response to AlCl3 toxicity.