Honey has shown potential therapeutic properties in traditional medicine. This study investigated the cognition enhancing potential of Tualang honey in chronic cerebral hypoperfusion-induced neurodegeneration by permanent bilateral common carotid arteries ligation (2 vessels occlusion-2VO) in rats. Previous studies have shown that rats subjected to 2VO (2 vessel occlusion) experienced cognitive deficits, oxidative stress and neuronal injury in the hippocampus of the brain. We studied the effect of Tualang honey on learning and memory using the Morris water maze (MWM) in rats. Rats were randomly divided into four groups (n=10); Sham control, untreated 2VO (2VO), honey treated 2VO (2VO+H) and honey treated group (H). Each group was again divided into two subgroups (n=5): one for long term memory assessment and another for short term memory and relearning tasks. After 10 weeks of treatment, all rat groups were tested for cognitive assessment by MWM (Morris water maze). 2VO+H rats had better spatial learning and memory performance than untreated 2VO rats in MWM tasks (p<0.05). However, there was no significant difference between Sham rats and H group rats (p>0.05). This study shows that Malaysian Tualang honey might have therapeutic potential for the treatment of chronic cerebral hypoperfusion related neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer's disease (AD) in which cognitive impairment is profound.
Objective: The aims of this study were to investigate the adverse effects of the high-fat-diet (HFD) on the testosterone level and testicular structure of male rats as well as to examine whether Eurycoma Longifolia (EL) is able to ameliorate these effects. Methods: Twenty-four male Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were divided into four groups each containing 6 rats. Group ND was given only normal diet, group NDEL was given normal diet and EL extracts (15 mg/ kg) dissolved in distilled water, group HFD was given only high-fat-diet and group HFDEL was given high-fat-diet and EL extracts (15 mg/kg). EL was administered orally for 12 weeks. The animal's testosterone level was measured at week 0, 6 and 12. The rats were sacrificed at the end of 12 th weeks and the testes samples were processed for histological examination Results: The testosterone level was significantly increased (p < 0.05) in the in the treated rats with EL (NDEL and HFDEL) compared with ND and HFD groups. Treatment with HFD revealed a marked degeneration of the seminiferous tubule epithelium and disruption of interstitial cells of the testis thereby interfering with spermatogenesis. Treatment of HFD rats with El reduced the adverse effects of HFD and improved the morphological structure of the seminiferous tubules. Conclusion: These findings revealed that EL has ameliorative effects against the testicular damage caused by high-fat-diet.
Introduction: Preclinical studies have reported that Murraya koenigii leaves (MKL) could enhance memory. MKL is also known for its antioxidant activity. The current study was to assess the possible neuroprotective potential of MKL methanolic extract in a two vessel occlusion (2VO) rat model of partial global cerebral ischaemia. Methods: Rats were divided into memory and learning groups. Each group was subdivided into sham control, untreated 2VO and MKL-treated 2VO subgroups. The Morris water maze test was implemented to assess the rats’ cognitive function postoperatively. Brain samples were histopathologically examined for viable neurons within the CA1 hippocampal region. Results: Water maze test findings showed that MKL positively improved memory and learning impairments. However, this improvement in memory test for the treated group was still significantly inferior to that of the healthy control group. Additionally, MKL treated group exhibited insignificant difference in the number of viable hippocampal CA1 pyramidal neurons from that of the untreated 2VO group, whereas both MKL treated and untreated 2VO groups showed significantly less viable neurons when compared with the control group. Conclusion: MKL extract modestly improved memory without providing substantial neuroprotective action to the hippocampal neurons in rats with chronic partial global cerebral ischaemia.
Introduction: Virgin coconut oil (VCO) is known for its health and therapeutic benefits. However, the immunomodulatory effects of VCO have not been extensively investigated. Objective: The present study was devoted to examining the effects of VCO on cyclophosphamide (CY)-induced toxicity of lymphoid tissues. Methods: Thirty healthy male Wistar rats were sorted into 5 groups of 6 animals. The first control (NC) group was given distilled water via gavage at 5 ml/kg once daily. The second (CY) group received CY orally at 10 mg/kg/day for 4 weeks. Rats in the other three groups (CV5, CV10, and CV15) were given 10 mg/kg/day CY for 4 weeks, 5 m/kg/day, 10 ml/kg/day and 15 ml/kg/day VCO for 6 weeks, respectively. Rats were sacrificed at the end of 6th week; blood sample from the animals was collected for full blood count and biochemical analysis. The thymus and spleen of each animal was processed for histological examination. Results: The thymus and spleen showed marked reduction in lymphoid cellularity following daily administration of CY. The thymus also showed a marked reduction in the size of the medulla, and the white pulp areas of spleen had reduction in the follicle number and size. Supplementation with 10 ml/kg and 15 ml/kg VCO showed evidence of restoration of both the thymus and splenic lymphoid architecture. The total white cell counts, absolute lymphocyte counts and plasma globulin levels of the VCO groups were significantly increased compared to CY group. Conclusion: VCO displayed potential protective effects on CYinduced histological changes in lymphoid tissues.
Introduction: The oil extract of black cumin seeds Nigella sativa (NSO) demonstrated considerable preservation of spatial cognitive functions in rats subjected to chronic brain hypoperfusion (CBH). The hippocampal CA1 region pyramidal cells are the earliest neurons suffering neurodegeneration following CBH. Objective: The current study was devoted to assess the protective effects of Nigella sativa (NSO) treatment on CA1 hippocampal pyramidal cells of rats subjected to chronic brain hypoperfusion (CBH) that was achieved through permanent two vessel occlusion (2VO) procedure. Methods: Twenty four rats were equally divided into three groups; sham control, untreated 2VO and NSO treated group (2VO with daily oral NSO treatment. After the 10th postoperative week coronal sections of the hippocampus were collected for histopathological and electron microscopical examinations. Results: The number of viable pyramidal cells within CA1 hippocampal region in sham control and NSO treated groups was significantly higher than that of untreated 2VO group, while the difference was not significant when comparing the viable pyramidal cells number of sham control with NSO treated groups. Furthermore, 2VO group showed marked intracellular ultrastructural distortions that were less pronounced in NSO treated group. Conclusion: NSO displayed a robust potential to protect hippocampal pyramidal cells from CBH induced neurodegeneration putting forward its prospective neuroprotective activity against age related cognitive decline of Alzheimer’s disease and vascular dementia.
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