Toxicity caused by heavy metals especially lead (Pb²⁺) poses adverse effects on human health by interfering with normal cellular activities through oxidative stress. This study describes the ameliorative potential of Chrysophyllum albidum (CA) ethanol fruit extract on neurotoxicity caused by exposure to lead in male rats. Forty-two male rats were grouped randomly into six sets. Distilled water was administered to rats in Group 1 (control group). Groups 2 to 6 received 50 mg/kg lead acetate in drinking water daily for twenty-one days. In addition, groups 3 to 5 were administered with 100, 200 and 400 mg/kg bwt CA ethanol fruit extract orally while group 6 received 200 mg/kg bwt ascorbic acid once daily for twenty-one days. All treatments were orally administered once daily for twenty-one days. Thereafter, behavioral tests (Y-Maze test, forced swim test, open field test) were sacrificed under chloroform anesthesia on day twenty-one after which biochemical tests were done. Brain superoxide-dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione (GSH), malondialdehyde (MDA) and acetylcholinesterase levels were assessed as well as histological alterations in the brain. Administration of CA extract at 200 and 400 mg/kg bwt doses caused a significant increase in SOD (p ˂ 0.0001), catalase (p ˂ 0.05) and GSH level (p ˂ 0.05). A significant decrease in immobility time (p ˂ 0.0001) and increase in spontaneous alternation (p ˂ 0.0001) was also observed. The findings suggest that CA ethanol fruit extract may offer a therapeutic avenue for mitigating lead-induced neurotoxicity due to its antioxidant and neuroprotective effect.
Olanike et al. (Fri,) studied this question.