Improvement of spatial learning and memory, cortical gyrification patterns and brain oxidative stress markers in diabetic rats treated with Ficus deltoidea leaf extract and vitexin

Abstract

Despite the fact that Ficus deltoidea and vitexin played important roles in controlling hyperglycemia, an effective mitigation strategy dealing with cognitive deficit observed in diabetes, little is known about its neuroprotective effects. The study is aimed to determine changes in behavioral, gyrification patterns and brain oxidative stress markers in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats following F. deltoidea and vitexin treatments. Diabetic rats were treated orally with metformin, methanolic extract of F. deltoidea leaves and vitexin for eight weeks. Morris water maze (MWM) test was performed to evaluate learning and memory functions. The patterns of cortical gyrification were subsequently visualized using micro-computed tomography (micro-CT). Quantification of brain oxidative stress biomarkers, insulin, amylin as well as serum testosterone were measured using a spectrophotometer. The brain fatty acid composition was determined using gas chromatography (GC). Biochemical variation in brain was estimated using Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy. Results showed that oral administration of F. deltoidea extract and vitexin to diabetic rats attenuated learning and memory impairment, along with several clusters of improved gyrification. Both treatments also caused a significant increase in the superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) values, as well as a significant reduction of TBARS. Strikingly, improvement of cortical gyrification, spatial learning and memory are supported by serum testosterone levels, fatty acid composition of brain and FT-IR spectra.

<p>Pharmacological Inhibition of Galectin-3 Ameliorates Diabetes-Associated Cognitive Impairment, Oxidative Stress and Neuroinflammation in vivo and in vitro</p>

“…SOD is a major antioxidant enzyme that converts superoxide radicals to hydrogen peroxide, playing an essential role in maintaining redox equilibrium. 30 CAT and GSH-Px can convert hydrogen peroxide to water, and both are primary antioxidant enzymes. 31 When the antioxidant defense system is damaged by HFD/STZ, ROS are not sufficiently scavenged to regulate oxidative stress.…”

The Effects of Hydrogen Peroxide on Plant Growth, Mineral Accumulation, as Well as Biological and Chemical Properties of Ficus deltoidea

“…F. deltoidea contains 5 main active compounds including flavonoids [11], tannins, triterpenoids, proanthocyanins and phenols [14]. More than 20 classes of flavonoids have been reported present in the leaves of F. deltoidea displaying properties of high antioxidant activities [15]. Currently, two bioactive compounds suggested to be possessed by F. deltoidea which have α-glucosidase inhibition are vitexin and isovitexin [11].…”

Lead acetate-induced neurodegenerative changes in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex of mice: the role of Vitexin

“…This result further indicates that the treatment of Vitexin alongside Pb treatment will attenuate the possible cognitive impairment caused by Pb. Earlier reports have indicated the various roles of Vitexin to improve cognitive impairment that was not caused by Pb exposure [36,37]. According to Moosavirad et al, Pb-exposure cause reduction in the discrimination and object recognition index of learning tasks [38].…”