Acute Oral Toxicity, Cognitive-Enhancing and Anti-Lipid Peroxidation Efficacy, and Qualitative Phytochemistry of the Aqueous Aerial Part Extract of Launaea Cornuta (Hochst. Ex. Oliv. &Hiern) C. Jeffrey
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Date
2023-04-12
Authors
Maina, Mercy
Mbaria, James
Kamanja, Irene
Morias, Gervason
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Cell Press
Abstract
At present, there is no cure for dementia or its related cognitive impairments. Available treatments only provide symptomatic relief and do not alter the disease’s progression and they suffer
serious drawbacks limiting their clinical use, hence the need for alternative therapies. Although
Launaea cornuta has been used traditionally to treat cognitive deficits, its pharmacological efficacy and safety have not been empirically validated, prompting this study. Acute oral toxicity of
the extract was examined in Swiss albino mice using the up-and-down procedure described by the
Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development guideline number 425. The Morris
water maze technique was adopted in assessing cognitive-enhancing effects of the extract in
ketamine-induced cognitive-impaired mice. The malondialdehyde concentrations in the whole
brain of experimental mice involved in the MWM experiment were measured to determine the
extract’s anti-lipid peroxidation efficacy. Qualitative phytochemical screening of the extract was
performed using standard procedures. Our results showed that the test extract was safe and did
not cause any clinical signs of acute oral toxicity in mice at all doses (LD50 > 2000 mg/kg BW).
Moreover, the extract significantly improved cognitive function in ketamine-induced cognitiveimpaired mice in a dose-dependent manner, as indicated by reduced escape latency, navigation
distance, and longer latency in the target quadrant during the probe trial. The extract also
significantly reduced malondialdehyde concentrations in mice in a dose-dependent manner,
demonstrating its antioxidative stress efficacy. The studied extract contained various phytochemicals associated with cognitive enhancement and antioxidant efficacy, among other pharmacologic effects. Further empirical studies are needed to determine and characterise the
extract’s specific cognitive-enhancing compounds, specific mechanisms of action, and complete
toxicity profiles.
Description
Article
Keywords
Morris water maze, Thiobarbituric acid reactive substances, Malondialdehyde, Dementia, Phytochemicals, Up-and-down procedure
Citation
Maina, M., Mbaria, J., Kamanja, I., & Moriasi, G. (2023). Acute oral toxicity, cognitive-enhancing and anti-lipid peroxidation efficacy, and qualitative phytochemistry of the aqueous aerial part extract of Launaea cornuta (Hochst. ex. Oliv. &Hiern) C. Jeffrey. Heliyon, 9(4).