<i>Duguetia furfuracea</i> (A.ST. Hil.) Saff.: Neuroprotective Effect on Chemically Induced Amnesia, Anxiolytic Effects and Preclinical Safety Evaluation in Mice
Maiara Fava de Souza,
Jéssica Maurino dos Santos,
Sidney Mariano dos Santos,
Pedro Cruz de Oliveira Junior,
Janaine Alberto Marangoni Faoro,
Arielle Cristina Arena,
Lívia Trippe Nagaoka,
Gisele de Freitas Gauze,
Rodrigo Juliano Oliveira,
Matheus Henrique Barbim Rech,
Rosilda Mara Mussury Franco Silva,
Anelise Samara Nazari Formagio
Affiliations
Maiara Fava de Souza
College of Health Science, Federal University of Grande Dourados, Dourados 79804-970, MS, Brazil
Jéssica Maurino dos Santos
College of Health Science, Federal University of Grande Dourados, Dourados 79804-970, MS, Brazil
Sidney Mariano dos Santos
College of Health Science, Federal University of Grande Dourados, Dourados 79804-970, MS, Brazil
Pedro Cruz de Oliveira Junior
College of Biological and Environmental Sciences, Federal University of Grande Dourados, Dourados 79804-970, MS, Brazil
Janaine Alberto Marangoni Faoro
College of Health Science, Federal University of Grande Dourados, Dourados 79804-970, MS, Brazil
Arielle Cristina Arena
Institute of Biosciences of Botucatu, Department of Structural and Functional Biology, University Estadual Paulista—Botucatu (UNESP), São Paulo 18618-689, SP, Brazil
Lívia Trippe Nagaoka
Institute of Biosciences of Botucatu, Department of Structural and Functional Biology, University Estadual Paulista—Botucatu (UNESP), São Paulo 18618-689, SP, Brazil
Gisele de Freitas Gauze
Department of Chemistry, State University of Maringá UEM, Maringá 87020-900, PR, Brazil
Rodrigo Juliano Oliveira
Centro de Estudos em Células-Tronco, Terapia Celular e Genética Toxicológica (CeTroGen), Faculdade de Medicina (FAMED), Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso do Sul (UFMS), Campo Grande 79070-900, MS, Brazil
Matheus Henrique Barbim Rech
Centro de Estudos em Células-Tronco, Terapia Celular e Genética Toxicológica (CeTroGen), Faculdade de Medicina (FAMED), Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso do Sul (UFMS), Campo Grande 79070-900, MS, Brazil
Rosilda Mara Mussury Franco Silva
College of Biological and Environmental Sciences, Federal University of Grande Dourados, Dourados 79804-970, MS, Brazil
Anelise Samara Nazari Formagio
College of Health Science, Federal University of Grande Dourados, Dourados 79804-970, MS, Brazil
Duguetia furfuracea, “araticum-seco”, is known to contain several bioactive compounds that can mitigate oxidative stress and act on the central nervous system (CNS). This effect is partly attributed to its potent antioxidant and acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibitors. In this study, the effects were explored of the methanolic extract (MEDF) and alkaloid fraction (AFDF) of D. furfuracea (leaves) on cognitive behaviors in male mice with scopolamine (Scop)-induced cognitive impairment and biochemical parameters. Additionally, anxiolytic behavior, subacute toxicity, molecular docking and antioxidant activity were reported. MEDF (30, 100 or 300 mg/kg) or AFDF (30 mg/kg) were orally administered for 16 days and Scop (intraperitoneally, i.p.) between days 11 and 16. The anxiolytic behavior (open field test and marble burying) in healthy mice, and the Scop-induced memory impairment (object recognition test and Morris water maze (MWM)) were assessed, and the biochemical parameters (malondialdehyde (MDA) and AChE levels) were measured after euthanasia. The subacute toxicological impact of MEDF was assessed in female Swiss mice for 28 days. MEDF and AFDF were available for the DPPH, ABTS and β-carotene/linoleic acid models. The results revealed that MEDF and AFDF exhibit anxiolytic effects and significantly alleviated Sco-induced memory impairment, inhibited AChE in the cortex (40%) and MDA (51.51%) levels. Reticuline was reported in AFDF and molecular coupling with AChE involves link-type hydrogen bonds and van der Waals interactions. MEDF exhibited antioxidant capacity (DPPH, IC50 = 18.10 ± 1.70 µg/mL; ABTS, IC50 = 10.41 ± 1.69 µg/mL). MEDF did not reveal signs of toxicity. In conclusion, D. furfuracea shows promise in mitigating scopolamine-induced memory deficits, potentially because it inhibits AChE activity, reduces MDA levels, and enhances antioxidant activities.
