Neuroprotective properties of solanum leaves in transgenic Drosophila melanogaster model of Alzheimer's disease.

INTRODUCTION

We investigated the effect of African eggplant (AE) ( L) and Black nightshade (BN) L) leaves; two tropical vegetables consumed by humans on behavioural, biochemical and histological indices in model of Alzheimer's disease (AD).

MATERIALS AND METHOD

Transgenic flies expressing human Amyloid Precursor Protein (hAPP) and β-secretase (hBACE 1) were exposed to the pulverised leaf samples (0.1 and 1.0%) in their diets for fourteen days. Thereafter, the flies were assessed for their behavioural indices and routine histology of brain cells. Furthermore, fly head homogenates were assayed for β-amyloid level, activities of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and β-secretase (BACE-1), as well as oxidative stress markers.

RESULTS

Result showed that the significantly lower ( < 0.05) behavioural parameters (survival, locomotor performance and memory index), higher AChE and BACE-1 activities, β-amyloid, ROS and lipid peroxidation levels, as well as reduced antioxidant indices observed in the AD flies, were significantly ameliorated ( < 0.05) in AD flies treated with the leaf samples.

DISCUSSION

This study has showed that leaves of AE and BN ameliorated behavioural and biochemical indices in AD flies via neural enzyme modulatory, and antioxidant mechanisms.

CONCLUSION

Hence, this study further justifies the neuroprotective properties of both AE and BN.