Protective effects of Fragaria ananassa methanolic extract in a rat model of cadmium chloride-induced neurotoxicity

Abstract

Cadmium (Cd) is a common environmental toxicant that has harmful effects on plants, animals, and humans. The present study evaluated the protective effects of Fragaria ananassa methanolic extract (SME) on cadmium chloride (CdCl2)-induced neuronal toxicity in rats. Male albino rats were intraperitoneally (i.p) injected with CdCl2 (6.5 mg/kg) for 5 days with or without the SME (250 mg/kg). We measured the levels of Cd, lipid peroxidation (LPO), nitric oxide, glutathione (GSH), and oxidative enzymes such as superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase, and glutathione reductase (GR) in the whole brain homogenate. Compared with the control group, the Cd-intoxicated group showed a marked increase in the brain levels of Cd, LPO, and nitric oxide and a decrease in the levels of GSH and all tested antioxidant enzymes. Compared with Cd-intoxicated rats, the rats pretreated with SME showed restoration of oxidative balance in the brain tissue. While the expression of brain SOD2, CAT, glutathione peroxidase 1, and GR was down-regulated in the Cd-treated group, the expression of these enzymes was up-regulated in rats pretreated with SME. In addition, administration of SME before CdCl2 increased the Bcl-2 expression, but significantly decreased the expression of Bax. Immunohistochemical analysis showed that compared with Cd-intoxicated rats, rats pretreated with SME showed a decrease in the protein expression of tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α). Our findings indicate that SME protects the brain tissue from Cd-induced neuronal toxicity by improving the antioxidant system and increasing antiapoptotic and anti-inflammatory activities.

Association of Strawberries and Anthocyanidin Intake with Alzheimer’s Dementia Risk

“…The potential mechanistic links for the beneficial effect of strawberries may be due in part to the neuroprotective properties of the bioactive in strawberries. In animal models, strawberry consumption improved cognitive function, increased neurogenesis, and insulin-like growth factor-1 signaling, reversed neuronal aging by reducing oxidative stress and ameliorated metal-induced neurotoxicity [12,14,34]. Bioactives in strawberries, including pelargonidin, anthocyanidins, and total flavonoids, are known to have anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties [35][36][37].…”

Cadmium-Induced Oxidative Stress: Focus on the Central Nervous System

“…Finally, to exacerbate the role of Cd-induced oxidative stress, a mention of the antioxidant molecules used to retrieve its detrimental effects is needed. Indeed, many molecules with well-known antioxidant properties were studied to counteract Cd-induced neural oxidative stress, such as royal jelly [175], flavonoids and polyphenols content in Fragaria ananassa methanolic extract [176], selenium [172,177], zinc [172] and CBD [173] as new emerging antioxidant tools in neurodegenerative disorders [178]. Furthermore, in order to counteract the Cd deleterious effects, some studies highlighted the role of divalent metal ions such as magnesium, calcium, zinc in competing with Cd for the same binding sites [179][180][181].…”

The Role of Dietary Antioxidants in the Pathogenesis of Neurodegenerative Diseases and Their Impact on Cerebral Oxidoreductive Balance

“…It was demonstrated that the use of extracts or juices of pomegranate, strawberries, watermelon, and Garcinia Indica fruit, which are popular in Hindu medicine, led to an improvement in cerebral antioxidative potential. The antioxidative properties of fruit result from the presence of large amounts of phenolic compounds, primarily phenolic acids and catechins, epicatechins, flavan-3-ols, kaempferol, quercetin, and luteolin [132,152]. Apart from the same, the mentioned fruit also contain a number of other substances with known antioxidative properties: vitamins C and E, β-carotene, selenium, and anthocyanins [132,153].…”

“…The antioxidative properties of fruit result from the presence of large amounts of phenolic compounds, primarily phenolic acids and catechins, epicatechins, flavan-3-ols, kaempferol, quercetin, and luteolin [132,152]. Apart from the same, the mentioned fruit also contain a number of other substances with known antioxidative properties: vitamins C and E, β-carotene, selenium, and anthocyanins [132,153]. Moreover, red-flesh watermelons also contain lycopene, as well as saponins and tannins [143].…”