EFFECT OF ALKALOID EXTRACTS OF AFRICAN JOINTFIR (Gnetum africanum) AND EDITAN (Lasianthera africana) LEAVES ON BIOCHEMICAL INDICES IN Drosophila melanogaster MODEL OF ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE

Abstract

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disorder causing dementia in affected patients. The quest for alternative treatments has necessitated exploitation of plants’ secondary metabolites. Recently, plant alkaloids have shown relevance in the management of neurodegenerative diseases; however, there is limited information on the neuroprotective properties of alkaloid from some tropical green leafy vegetables. Hence, this study aimed at investigating the antioxidative and neuroprotective properties of alkaloid extracts of Lasianthera africana(Editan)and Gnetum africanum(African Jointfir)leaves. Characterization of these alkaloids was carried out using high performance liquid chromatography. Alkaloid extracts were included in the diets of these flies at varying concentrations (2 μg/g and 10 μg/g basal diets). After a period of seven (7) days, prior to anaesthesia, flies from each group were independently examined for locomotor performance (climbing activity). The flies were thereafter anaesthesized and tissue homogenates obtained were assayed for markers of neurotoxicity and antioxidant status. Both alkaloid extracts showed antiradical activity. Result from this study also showed that these alkaloid extracts exhibit outstanding antioxidant capability. Furthermore, this study revealed that these alkaloids possess cholinesterase and monoamine oxidase inhibitory activities. The alkaloid extracts could therefore be employed as sources of nutraceuticals and it can also be employed in the treatment of oxidative stress pathologies in which free radicals are implicated e.g Alzheimer’s disease.