Oladele Johnson O, Ajayi Ebenezer I O, Babatunde Isaac O, Awosanya Olaide O, Oladele Oluwaseun T, Atolagbe Oluwafemi S, Adewale Omowumi O, Oyeleke Oyedotun M
Department of Chemical Sciences, Faculty of Science, Kings University, Ode-Omu, Osun State, Nigeria.
Phytochemistry and Phytomedicine Research Unit, Royal Scientific Research Institute, Osogbo, Osun State, Nigeria.
Metab Brain Dis. 2025 Jun 30;40(6):237. doi: 10.1007/s11011-025-01655-1.
The incidence of neurotoxicity has been rising recently due to increase exposure to toxic compounds such as Cadmium (Cd). Aqueous leaf extract of Talinum triangulare (AETT) is used in traditional medicine in the treatment of various kinds of diseases. This study sought to examine neuroprotective potential of AETT on cadmium-induced neurotoxicity in rats. Neurotoxicity was induced in rats via oral administration of 5 mg/kg body weight CdCl and treated with either 200 mg/kg of AETT or vitamin E for 14 consecutive days. Results revealed that Cd induced behavioural incompetence with marked decrease in motor skills, muscle strength, exploratory activities, and anxiogenic-like phenotype which are vital psychomotor coordination tools. Cd intoxication caused a marked increase in neuronal expression of inflammatory biomarkers (TNF-α, MPO and NO), hydrogen peroxide generation, and lipid peroxidation; with associated decrease in both enzymatic antioxidants (GST, SOD, CAT) and non-enzymatic antioxidants (reduced glutathione). Similarly, decreased in dopamine with concomitant increased in the activity of acetylcholinesterase were observed in Cd-induced rats. Nevertheless, AETT or vitamin E markedly restored behavioural competence, mitigated neuroinflammation, lipid peroxidation and oxidative stress. AETT modulated cholinergic and dopaminergic pathways which improved bioavailability of acetylcholine and dopamine in the brain. Furthermore, AETT displayed better protective effects than vitamin E, this could be because of antioxidant phytochemicals in AETT as showed in the GCMS result. Overall, this study suggested AETT as a potential therapeutic agent in the treatment of neurotoxicity mediated by toxic metals.
由于接触镉（Cd）等有毒化合物的机会增加，神经毒性的发生率近来一直在上升。三角叶土人参水提物（AETT）在传统医学中用于治疗各种疾病。本研究旨在探讨AETT对镉诱导的大鼠神经毒性的神经保护潜力。通过口服5mg/kg体重的CdCl诱导大鼠神经毒性，并连续14天用200mg/kg的AETT或维生素E进行治疗。结果显示，镉导致行为能力下降，运动技能、肌肉力量、探索活动以及焦虑样表型显著降低，而这些都是至关重要的精神运动协调指标。镉中毒导致炎症生物标志物（TNF-α、MPO和NO）的神经元表达显著增加、过氧化氢生成以及脂质过氧化；同时酶促抗氧化剂（GST、SOD、CAT）和非酶促抗氧化剂（还原型谷胱甘肽）均减少。同样，在镉诱导的大鼠中观察到多巴胺减少，同时乙酰胆碱酯酶活性增加。然而，AETT或维生素E显著恢复了行为能力，减轻了神经炎症、脂质过氧化和氧化应激。AETT调节胆碱能和多巴胺能途径，提高了大脑中乙酰胆碱和多巴胺的生物利用度。此外，AETT显示出比维生素E更好的保护作用，这可能是由于GCMS结果所示的AETT中的抗氧化植物化学物质。总体而言，本研究表明AETT作为治疗有毒金属介导的神经毒性的潜在治疗剂。
