Effect of Dalbergiella welwitschi alkaloid-rich extracts on neuroprotective in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats.

The neuroprotective ability of alkaloid-rich leaf extract of Dalbergiella welwitschii in streptozotocin-induced type 2 diabetic rats were investigated in this study. Dalbergiella welwitshii leaf alkaloid-rich extract was obtained using standard procedure. Streptozotocin was injected into the experimental animals intraperitoneally at a dose of 45 mg/mg body weight. Prior to this, the animals were given 20% (w/v) fructose for one week. The animals were grouped into five (n = 8), comprising of normal control (NC), diabetic control (DC), diabetic rats treated with low (50 mg/mg body weight) and high (100 mg/kg body weight) doses of Dalbergiella welwitschii alkaloid-rich leaf extracts (i.e., DWL and DWH respectively) and 200 mg/kg body weight of metformin (MET). The animals were sacrificed on the 21st day, blood and brain tissue were harvested and used for the determination of neurotransmitters, cholinesterase, some ATP activities, oxidative stress biomarkers and histological examination. The results show that diabetic rats placed on DWL, DWH and MET significantly (p < 0.05) reduced cholinergic, elevated some ATPase activities and ameliorated oxidative stress biomarkers. These were supported by the histological examination by improving neuroprotective effects in diabetic rats administered DWL, DWH and MET. Hence, it can be presumed that DWL and DWH could be beneficial in treating diabetic neurodegenerative diseases.