In vitro neuroprotective properties of some commonly consumed green leafy vegetables in Southern Nigeria

Abstract

Green leafy vegetable is one of the major cuisines in Southern Nigeria and they are not only consumed for their palatability, but also for their nutritional and medicinal properties as reported in folklore. Notable among them are afang (Gnetum africanum), editan (Lasianthera africana) and utazi (Gongronema latifolium). In this study, we investigated the effect of aqueous extracts from afang, editan and utazi leaves on cholinesterases [acetylcho linesterase (AChE) and butyrylcholinesterase (BChE)] and monoamine oxidase (MAO) activities. Fe 2+ chelating abilities were also determined as an assessment of their neuroprotective potentials in vitro. We also assayed for their total phenol contents while the constituent phenolics were characterized using high performance liquid chromatography coupled with diode array detector (HPLC-DAD). The results revealed that the extracts inhibited AChE, BChE and MAO activities and also chelated Fe 2+ in concentration dependent manner. The HPLC-DAD char acterization showed that gallic, caffeic and ellagic acids and rutin were the dominant phenolic compounds in the extracts; nevertheless, utazi had the highest distribution of identified phenolics while afang had the least. The ability of the aqueous extracts of the vegetables to inhibit key enzymes (AChE, BChE and MAO) relevant to neu rodegeneration, as well chelate metal ion could help suggest their possible neuroprotective properties. These vegetables could be use as dietary intervention in the management of neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases.

Modulation of some markers of erectile dysfunction and malonaldehyde levels in isolated rat penile tissue with unripe and ripe plantain peels: identification of the constituents of the plants using HPLC

“…The inhibition of AChE by the extracts could be associated with the presence of phenolic compounds. This agrees with recent studies that phenolic-rich plants could inhibit AChE (Akomolafe et al 2016;Nwanna et al 2016;Oboh et al 2017a). This also confirms the fact that UPP which had the highest phenolics possessed the highest AChE inhibitory potentials.…”

Cognitive Enhancing and Antioxidative Potentials of Velvet Beans (Mucuna pruriens) and Horseradish (Moringa oleifera) Seeds Extracts: A Comparative Study

“…; Nwanna et al . ). Hence, the difference in the MAO inhibition could be as result of their differences in their phenolic distribution (Table ).…”

“…) and some green leafy vegetables (Nwanna et al . ) but more potent than that from the seeds of avocado pear (Oboh et al . ) on their ChEs inhibitory properties.…”

Phenolic Composition and Inhibitory Ability of Methanolic Extract from Pumpkin (Cucurbita pepo L) Seeds on Fe-induced Thiobarbituric acid reactive species in Albino Rat's Testicular Tissue In-Vitro

“…This study is in consistence with several reports of some tropical plants with similar trends between the total phenol and flavonoid content (Gacche et al, 2010;Handique et al, 2012;Radojkovic et al, 2012). The use of chromatography analysis to quantify and qualify phenolic profile of plant material has proven to be more advantageous over total phenolic content determination using Folin Ciocalteu method, as it reveals accurate information of individual compounds (Nwanna et al, 2016). The result of the phenolic composition using GC-FID revealed the presence of dominant eleven phenolic compounds of which six were phenolic acids while the remaining five were flavonoids (Table 2).…”