Diosgenin Mitigates Aluminum Chloride Mediated Developmental Toxicity in <i>Drosophila melanogaster</i>

Abstract

Aluminum (Al) is a dangerous environmental neurotoxin that can cause tissue inflammation and oxidative stress. Diosgenin (DG) is a chemical that possesses therapeutic potential and is a powerful neuroprotective and antioxidant agent. Due to their unique anatomy, physiology, and diet, newborns are at a higher risk of harm from the developmental toxin Al. Researchers widely used Drosophila melanogaster as a popular model to study the toxicity of Al in recent years. The study investigates potential protective effects of dietary DG on D. melanogaster, a model of Al-toxicity. The larvae were raised on a diet containing 40 mM/kg Aluminium Chloride (AlCl3) and 15 mM/kg DG. AlCl3 caused oxidative stress and neurobehavioural abnormalities. However, dietary DG improved nociception and crawling deficits by restoring acetylcholinesterase levels and reducing oxidative stress. The study found that higher doses of DG reduced the negative effects of AlCl3 exposure, suggesting DG’s antioxidant potential could treat diseases caused by free radicals. The study reveals that Al-rich diets cause oxidative stress in D. melanogaster, affecting development, metabolism, and neurobehavioral function. DG, as an antioxidant, can protect against negative effects, but its benefits decrease with higher concentrations, the ideal dosage being 15 mM/kg.