Lipid Peroxidation and Glutathione Level Following Scopolamine-Induced Cognitive Dysfunction in Rats: Potentials of Telfairia occidentalis Seeds and Talinium triangulare Leaves Aqueous Extracts

Background: Oxidative stress augmented with progressive age, causes changes in mitochondrial DNA, mitochondrial disruption and more oxidative trouble. This process is facilitated in Alzheimer’s disease by the pathology of αβ amyloid and activated microglia.

Objectives: The present study compared the potentials of aqueous extract of Telfairia occidentalis (TO) seeds and Talinum triangulare (TT) on the malondialdehyde (MDA) and glutathione (GSH) levels following scopolamine hydrobromide (SHB)-induced Alzheimer’s type cognitive dysfunction in rats.

Methods: Forty-two Wistar rats were arrayed into seven arrays (I-VII). Alzheimer’s type cognitive dysfunction was induced in arrays II-VII by administering intraperitoneally (IP) 1 mg/kg body weight (BW) of SHB for seven days before aqueous extracts of TO (850 mg/kg and 1750 mg/kg), TT (850 mg/kg and 1750 mg/kg) and donepezil (1 mg/kg) administrations for 14 days. The rats’ blood serums were taken and analyzed.

Result: The MDA estimation in group II (672±39.65), VI (707.67±24.99) and VII (671.64±32.07) increased significantly compared with others (P<0.05). Glutathione level was significantly increased in arrays I (0.44±0.05), IV (0.41±0.08), V (0.46±0.07) and VII (0.44±0.05) compared to others.

Conclusion: Aqueous extract of TO seeds reduced MDA levels and both extracts increased glutathione levels in Alzheimer’s type cognitive dysfunction rats; though the effect of TT was dose-dependent.