Sub-Saharan African Journal of Medicine

ORIGINAL ARTICLE
Year
: 2014  |  Volume : 1  |  Issue : 4  |  Page : 204--209

Preliminary histological and histochemical studies on the neuroprotective effect of aqueous fruit extract of phoenix dactylifera L. (Date Palm) on atesunate - induced cerebellar damage in wistar rats


Abel Nosereme Agbon, Sechivir Damilola Ingbian, Ahmadu Usman Dahiru 
 Department of Human Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria

Correspondence Address:
Abel Nosereme Agbon
Department of Human Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria
Nigeria

Context: The cerebellum is vulnerable to damage from a variety of sources such as degenerative diseases, infectious processes and toxins, like antimalarial drugs. Various parts of Phoenix dactylifera (date palm) are used in traditional medicine to treat various disorders such as memory disturbances, loss of consciousness, nervous disorders, etc., in different parts of the world. Aim: The neuroprotective effect of aqueous fruit extract of P. dactylifera (AFPD) was assessed against artesunate (AS) (antimalarial drug) - induced cerebellar damage in Wistar rats. Materials and Methods: Twenty Wistar rats (male and female) were divided into five groups (A-E) of four rats each. Group A was the control whereas Groups B-E were treatment groups. Cerebellar toxicity was experimentally induced in Wistar rats by administering AS. Group B was administered AS (300 mg/kg, oral). Groups C, D, and E were administered AFPD (500 mg/kg, 1000 mg/kg and 1500 mg/kg, oral, respectively) followed by AS (300 mg/kg, oral) for a period of 7 days. Neuroprotective activity was studied by histopathological examination of brain sections applying routine (Haematoxylin and Eosin) and histochemical (Cresly Fast Violet) staining techniques. Statistical Analysis Used: One-way analysis of variance. Results: Histopathological examination of brain sections revealed neuronal degeneration of cerebellar cells, such as, vacuolations and degeneration of Purkinje cells, and alteration in the general histoarchitecture of cerebellum was observed in AS-intoxicated group. The administration of AFPD remarkably inhibited AS-induced neuronal damage in Wistar rats with maximum neuroprotective effect at 500 mg/kg and 1500 mg/kg doses when compared with tissue sections of AS-intoxicated group. Conclusion: Result suggests that the effectiveness of AFPD in neuroprotection is probably due to its constituent antioxidant properties.


How to cite this article:
Agbon AN, Ingbian SD, Dahiru AU. Preliminary histological and histochemical studies on the neuroprotective effect of aqueous fruit extract of phoenix dactylifera L. (Date Palm) on atesunate - induced cerebellar damage in wistar rats.Sub-Saharan Afr J Med 2014;1:204-209


How to cite this URL:
Agbon AN, Ingbian SD, Dahiru AU. Preliminary histological and histochemical studies on the neuroprotective effect of aqueous fruit extract of phoenix dactylifera L. (Date Palm) on atesunate - induced cerebellar damage in wistar rats. Sub-Saharan Afr J Med [serial online] 2014 [cited 2024 Mar 29 ];1:204-209
Available from: https://www.ssajm.org/article.asp?issn=2384-5147;year=2014;volume=1;issue=4;spage=204;epage=209;aulast=Agbon;type=0