Neuroprotective Effect of Ethylacetate Fraction of Antiaris Africana against Sodium Azide-Induced Neurotoxicity in the Striata of Male Wistar Rats

Antiaris africana has been shown to protect against several neurotoxins. This study investigated the neuroprotective effect of the ethylacetate fraction of A. africana (EFA) against sodium azide neurotocity (NaN3).

The corpora striata from the brains of 30 male Wistar rats were removed and incubated with varying concentrations of EFA in the presence or absence of NaN3. The protective effect of EFA was assessed by measuring the concentrations and activities of different mitochondrial respiratory enzymes (MRE) (NADH cytochrome C reductase, NADH succinate dehydrogenase, succinate cytochrome C reductase), neurotransmitters (acetylcholinesterase), reduced glutathione, malondialdehyde, protein carbonyl, lactate dehydrogenase, and monoamine oxidase.

The results indicated that NaN3 inhibited the activities of the MRE as compared to that of the controls (P<0.05).  It released lactate dehydrogenase from the striata, increased the activity of acetylcholinesterase, caused oxidative stress, and increased monoamine oxidase activity as compared to those of the control (P<0.05). The observed toxicity effect of NaN3 was prevented by all of the administered concentrations of EFA.

Our current findings support the fact that A. africana fraction was able to protect the mitochondrial enzymes involved in the respiratory chain, improve the redox status and prevent leakage of enzymes from the brain tissue, which demonstrated the efficacy of A. africana in preventing the toxic effect of NaN3 on rat brain cells and tissue.