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Subject Area

Natural Products and Phytochemistry

Abstract

Ameliorative effect of aqueous leaf extract of Cola acuminata(ALECA) on mercury chloride- induced neurotoxicity in male Wistar rat was investigated. Thirty six (36) male Wistar rats weighing 120g-150g were randomly divided into six groups; group I: received 0.5ml normal saline; group II: received 5mg/kg body weight (b.w) mercury chloride (HgCl2); group III: received 5mg/kg HgCl2 +150mg/kgb.w ALECA; group IV: received 5mg/kg HgCl2 + 300mg/kg ALECA; group V: received 5mg/kg HgCl2 +50mg/kg N-acetyl cysteine (NAC); group VI: received 5mg/kg HgCl2 + 500mg/kg b.w Vitamin C. The animals were treated for 21days via oral route. The rats were subjected to open field test and forelimb grip test on days 14 and 21.The animals were then sacrificed and brain tissues were collected, homogenized, and centrifuged for measurement of biochemical parameters: tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) and nitric oxide (NO). The data obtained from forelimb grip test showed that muscular strength was higher in the group given ALECA, NAC and Vitamin C when compared with the group given only HgCl2(p˂0.05).The data from open field test also showed that locomotory activity and exploratory behaviour are higher while anxiety levels is lower in the group treated with ALECA, NAC and Vitamin C when compared with HgCl2group (p˂0.05). Also the levels of TNF-α and NO are lower in the group treated with ALECA when compared with the mercury chloride group (p˂0.05). From the results, it was established that ALECA treated groups compared favourably with the two reference drugs.

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