Sweet basil (Ocimum basilicum) leaf and seed extracts alleviate neuronal dysfunction in aluminum chloride-induced neurotoxicity in Drosophila melanogaster Meigen model.
Study Goal
The researchers aimed to investigate the neuroprotective effects of sweet basil (SB) leaf and seed extracts in aluminum chloride-induced neurodegeneration in Drosophila melanogaster.
Results Summary
SB leaf and seed extracts significantly improved survival, locomotor performance, and oxidative biomarkers while reducing ROS, TBARS, AChE, and MAO activities in AlCl3-exposed flies. SB leaf showed better neuroprotective effects, likely due to higher phenolic content.
Population
Drosophila melanogaster (fruit flies) with induced neurodegeneration.
Effective Dosage
Not specified
Duration
Not specified
Interactions
None mentioned
| Intervention | Direction | Endpoint | Population | Dosage | Impact | Claim # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
SB leaf extract-supplemented diet | increase | polyphenol contents | - | - | had significantly higher | #1 |
AlCl3-diet | decrease | percentage survival | Drosophila melanogaster | - | significantly reduced | #2 |
AlCl3-diet | decrease | locomotor rates | Drosophila melanogaster | - | significantly reduced | #3 |
AlCl3-diet | decrease | level/activities of total thiol | Drosophila melanogaster | - | significantly reduced | #4 |
AlCl3-diet | decrease | catalase | Drosophila melanogaster | - | significantly reduced | #5 |
AlCl3-diet | decrease | SOD | Drosophila melanogaster | - | significantly reduced | #6 |
AlCl3-diet | decrease | GST | Drosophila melanogaster | - | significantly reduced | #7 |
AlCl3-diet | increase | ROS | Drosophila melanogaster | - | significantly increased | #8 |
AlCl3-diet | increase | TBARS | Drosophila melanogaster | - | significantly increased | #9 |
AlCl3-diet | increase | AChE activities | Drosophila melanogaster | - | significantly increased | #10 |
AlCl3-diet | increase | MAO activities | Drosophila melanogaster | - | significantly increased | #11 |
SB leaf and seed diet | decrease | these observed impairments | AlCl3-diet-fed Drosophila melanogaster | - | lessened | #12 |
SB leaf diet | increase | neurodegenerative diseases | - | - | may offer improved therapeutic effect | #13 |
Ocimum basilicum is an important medicinal plant and culinary herb generally known as sweet basil (SB). These plants are effective radical scavengers, that have been employed in treatment of nervous system disorders, and thus, could be beneficial for the management of neurodegenerative diseases (NDs). Current clinical treatments for NDs present several side effects, therefore, there is need to develop new treatments that can mitigate these deadly diseases. Hence, this study investigated the neuroprotective activities of SB leaf and seed in aluminum chloride (AlCl3)-induced toxicity in Drosophila melanogaster. HPLC characterization of the leaves and seeds were carried out. AlCl3-diet was used to induce neurodegeneration and treated flies received SB leaf and seed extracts-supplemented diet. Survival and locomotor performance activities/levels of oxidative biomarkers [reactive oxygen species (ROS), thiobarbituric acid reactive species (TBARS), total thiol, catalase, superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione-S-transferase (GST)], enzymes linked with neurodegeneration (acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and monoamine oxidase (MAO)) were investigated. SB leaf had significantly (p < 0.05) higher polyphenol contents; gallic acid and P-coumaric acid were the most abundant polyphenol in the leaf and seed respectively. Percentage survival and locomotor rates, level/activities of total thiol, catalase, SOD and GST were significantly (p < 0.05) reduced while ROS, TBARS, AChE and MAO activities were significantly (p < 0.05) increased in AlCl3-diet-fed flies. Treatment with SB leaf and seed diet lessened these observed impairments. However, SB leaf had better neuroprotective activities that could be related to the observed higher phenolic constituents. Hence, SB leaf diet may offer improved therapeutic effect in NDs.