Ademola Adetokunbo Oyagbemi
1* 
, Fasilat Oluwakemi Hassan
1 , Olamide Elizabeth Adebiyi
1 , Kabirat Oluwaseun Adigun
1 , Oluwabusayo Racheal Folarin
2 , Temitayo Olabisi Ajibade
1 , Oluwaseun Olanrewaju Esan
3 , Temidayo Olutayo Omobowale
3 , Olufunke Eunice Ola-Davies
1 , James Olukayode Olopade
3 , Adebowale Benard Saba
4 , Adeolu Alex Adedapo
4 , Sanah Malomile Nkadimeng
5 , Lyndy Joy McGaw
6 , Evaristus Nwulia
7 , Momoh Audu Yakubu
8 , Oluwafemi Omoniyi Oguntibeju
9 1 Department of Veterinary Physiology and Biochemistry, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria
2 Department of Veterinary Anatomy, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria
3 Department of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria
4 Department of Veterinary Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria
5 Department of Life and Consumer Sciences, Collage of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, University of South Africa Florida Campus, University of South Africa, Pretoria, South Africa
6 Phytomedicine Programme, Department of Paraclinical Science, University of Pretoria, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Old Soutpan Road, Onderstepoort, 0110, South Africa
7 Howard University, College of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Howard University Hospital, 2041 Georgia Avenue, Washington, DC 20060, USA
8 Department of Environmental & Interdisciplinary Sciences, College of Science, Engineering & Technology, Vascular Biology Unit, Center for Cardiovascular Diseases, COPHS, Texas Southern University, Houston, TX, USA
9 Phytomedicine and Phytochemistry Group, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health and Wellness Sciences, Cape Peninsula University of Technology, Bellville 7535, South Africa
Abstract
Introduction: Alterations of antioxidant defense, neuroinflammation, and neurodegeneration are common pathological occurrences associated with neurodegenerative diseases. This study evaluated the neuroprotective effect of Launaea taraxacifolia (LT), popularly known as African Wild lettuce, against neuroinflammation, memory loss, and neurobehavioral deficit.
Methods: Adult Wistar rats were used following random assignment into groups 1 to 5. Group one was the normal control. Groups four to five received 40 mg/kg Nω-nitro-l-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME). In addition to L-NAME exposure, groups three and four received 100 and 200 mg/kg LT, whereas group five received 10 mg/kg lisinopril. The experiment lasted for five weeks. Markers of oxidative stress, neurobehavioural studies, histology, and immunohistochemistry of glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), ionised calcium-binding adaptor molecule 1 (Iba-1), as well as anti-calbindin for staining astrocytes, microglia, and Purkinje cells were determined.
Results: Malondialdehyde (MDA) and protein carbonyl in the L-NAME alone group were heightened compared to those treated with LT. However, treatment with LT significantly reduced neuronal oxidative stress, neuroinflammation, and neurobehavioural changes. Quantitative analysis of immunohistochemical staining revealed heightened glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), ionised calcium-binding adaptor molecule 1 (Iba-1), as well as anti-calbindin as indicated by astrogliosis, microgliosis, and Purkinje cell degeneration in untreated rats. Moreover, the observed ultrastructural anarchy induced by L-NAME was restored in rats treated with LT (P<0.05).
Conclusion: Together, the leaf extract of LT can be effective as a neuroprotective drug candidate.
Implication for health policy/practice/research/medical education:
Co-treatment with Launaea taraxacifolia significantly improved astrogliosis, microgliosis, Purkinje cell degeneration, and depletion of neuronal antioxidant defense status. The results highlighted neuroprotective properties associated with L. taraxacifolia administration in experimental hypertension. Hence, L. taraxacifolia is a viable drug candidate for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases.
Please cite this paper as: Oyagbemi AA, Hassan FO, Adebiyi OE, Adigun KO, Folarin OR, Ajibade TO, et al. Neuroprotective effect of Launaea taraxacifolia against neuroinflammation, memory loss and neurobehavioral deficit in a rat model of hypertension: biochemical and immunohistochemical approaches. J Herbmed Pharmacol. 2024;13(3):390-398. doi: 10.34172/jhp.2024.44768.