Mucuna puriens root extract: A novel therapeutic agent for lead induced polyphagia and hippocampal neurotoxicity in adult Wistar rats

Abstract

Background: Environmental lead exposure is a public health challenge in Nigeria, and chronic lead exposure results in neurological conditions such as headaches, depression, short and long-term memory impairment, loss of motor coordination and sleep disturbances. Aim and Objective: This study evaluated the roles of Mucuna puriens (MP) root extract on Lead Acetate (LA)-induced neurotoxicity in adult Wistar rats. Material and Methods: It employed an in vivo model of LA-induced neurotoxicity and administered 100, 150, and 200 mg/kg/bwt of MP to the pretreated groups (C-E). Group A served as the control group and received 1 mg/kg/bwt of normal saline. In contrast, Group F, the reference group, was administered 120 mg/kg/bwt of LA and 100 mg/kg/bwt of Vitamin E. Appetites of animals were assessed by measuring changes in body weight and quantity of left-over feeds at the end of the administration. Furthermore, the activities of Malondialdehyde (MDA) and Glutathione (GSH) concentrations and histopathological investigations were measured. Results: Our result revealed neuronal loss and degeneration, characterized by edema, pyknosis, and chromatolysis on the hippocampal cells of experimental rats administered LA. However, following a co-administration with MP, there was a dose-dependent preservation of hippocampal architecture from neuronal degeneration. The beneficial effect was also confirmed by a reduction in MDA activities and an elevation in GSH concentrations. It showed that MP regulates polyphagia by causing a significant decrease in appetite with increased body weights. Conclusion: The current study indicates that LA exposure induces neuronal toxicity, oxidative stress, and alters appetite in Wistar rats, which is reversed by daily MP administration. This finding is probably due to the antioxidant activities of MP.

Keywords

• lead
• neurotoxicity
• hippocampus
• polyphagia
• oxidative stress
• mucuna puriens