Antioxidant and Neuroprotective Properties of Eugenia dysenterica Leaves

• Published in: Oxidative medicine and cellular longevity Vol. 2018; no. 2018; pp. 1 - 9
• Main Authors: Ghedini, Paulo César, Gil, Eric de Souza, Costa, Elson Alves, Xavier, Carlos Henrique, da Silva Neri, Hiasmin Franciely, Fajemiroye, James Oluwagbamigbe, de Oliveira, Thiago Sardinha, Peixoto, Luanna Fernandes, Thomaz, Douglas Vieira, Santos, Fernanda C.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Cairo, Egypt Hindawi Publishing Corporation 01.01.2018; Hindawi; Hindawi Limited
• Subjects: Aluminum Chloride - toxicity; Animals; Antioxidants; Antioxidants - pharmacology; Biochemistry; Brain - drug effects; Brain - pathology; Brain research; Electrodes; Electrolytes; Eugenia - chemistry; Experiments; Homeostasis; Lipids; Male; Memory; Mice; Neuroprotection - drug effects; Neuroprotective Agents - pharmacology; Neurosciences; Oxidative Stress - drug effects; Physiological psychology; Plant Extracts - pharmacology; Plant Leaves - chemistry; Polyphenols; Signal transduction; Software; Toxicology; Voltammetry; Brazil
• ISSN: 1942-0900; 1942-0994
• DOI: 10.1155/2018/3250908

Eugenia dysenterica ex DC Mart. (Myrtaceae), popularly known as “cagaita,” is a Brazilian plant rich in polyphenols and other antioxidant compounds. Aiming to evaluate the potential use of cagaita in pathologies involving oxidative stress, such as neurodegenerative disorders, this study investigated its antioxidant potential and neuroprotective effect. Electrochemical approaches and aluminium-induced neurotoxicity were used to determine respectively in vitro and in vivo antioxidant properties of cagaita. Voltammetric experiments were carried out in a three-electrode system, whose working electrode consisted of glassy carbon. Male Swiss mice were administered with AlCl3 orally at a dose of 100 mg/kg/day and with cagaita leaf hydroalcoholic extract (CHE) at doses of 10, 100, and 300 mg/kg/day. The redox behavior of CHE presented similar features to that of quercetin, a widely known antioxidant standard. CHE prevented mouse memory impairment which resulted from aluminium intake. In addition, biochemical markers of oxidative stress (catalase, superoxide dismutase activity, and lipid peroxidation) were normalized by CHE treatment. The potential of CHE to prevent aluminium-induced neurotoxicity was reflected at the microscopic level, through the decrease of the number of eosinophilic necrosis phenotypes seen in treated groups. Moreover, the protective effect of CHE was similar to that of quercetin, which was taken as the standard. These findings showed that the CHE of cagaita leaves has a potential to protect the brain against oxidative-induced brain damage.