Background: The pathogenesis of schizophrenia has been linked to N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NMDAr) inhibition and DAr hyperfunction. Geraniol is a naturally occurring acyclic monoterpene with diverse pharmacological applications. We aimed to assess the effect of geraniol on schizophrenia-like symptoms, vis a vis its modulatory actions on neurochemicals in mice models of psychosis.
Methods: In acute studies, male Swiss mice (n=5/group) were intraperitoneally treated with geraniol (25, 50 and 100 mg/kg), risperidone (0.5 mg/kg) or vehicle (10 ml/kg) prior to ketamine (KET) (10 mg/kg)-induced stereotypy and hyperlocomotion. In the chronic studies, mice (n=7/group) were exposed to 14 days interventions (geraniol or risperidone) following a preventive treatment with KET (20 mg/kg) from days 7-14 consecutively. The effects of treatments (e.g., geraniol or risperidone) alone and on KET-induced schizophrenia-like symptoms were investigated on the last day, 24 hours after treatments. Following that, neurochemical and neurotrophic alterations in the brain (striatum, prefrontal cortex, and hippocampus) tissues were investigated.
Results: Intoxication with KET was associated with schizophrenia-like symptoms as evidenced by stereotypy behavior and hyperlocomotion. KET further induced hyperlocomotion, behavioral despair, and cognitive impairment in the chronic studies. It altered the levels of dopamine, 5-hydroxytrypamine, glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD), acetylcholinesterase (AChE), and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in brain tissues. However, GER (50 and 100 mg/kg) administration significantly prevented the brain's insults caused by KET.
Conclusions: Altogether, the findings support geraniol's neuroprotective activity while also adding to the body of knowledge that geraniol inhibits schizophrenia-like symptoms via modulation of neurochemical and neurotrophic pathways.
The study evaluated the quantity of Polyaromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) present in aqueous ethanol (Aq. EtOH), dichloromethane (DCM), and n-hexane (n-hex) extracts of pumpkin (Cucurbita pepo) seed. Aliquots of dried extracts, gotten from the ground C. pepo, were subjected to Gas Chromatography Flame-Ionization Detector (GC-FID) analysis for quantitative identification of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) present in the samples. The procedure ensured that the analytical process had quality assurance and quality control. From the result, only naphthalene was present in all three samples (Aq. EtOH and DCM; 0.05ppm, n-hex.; 0.03ppm). Out of the eight (8) PAHs identified with potential carcinogenic effects by Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), only one, Fluorine, was present in only the n-hex extract (0.04ppm). From the result, DCM had more PAHs (5 PAHs) compared to n-hexane (4 PAHs) and Aq. EtOH (2 PAHs). The quantity of fluorine obtained from the extract is lower than the recommended daily intake in line with the European Union (EU) limits for fluorine, which is 0.05 ppm d -1 or mg kg −1 d −1 . Owing to the fact that only one chemical compound of public health importance (on the EPA priority list) was found, which was far below the standard daily intake limit by calculation, it is safe to suggest that the C. pepo seed used in this study may pose minimal or no risk to exposed organisms. This study is important in investigating extracts intended for experimental purposes, for contaminants and other inherent compounds that may be noxious to the biological system.
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