Effects of DCM Leaf Extract of Gnidia glauca (Fresen) on Locomotor Activity, Anxiety, and Exploration-Like Behaviors in High-Fat Diet-Induced Obese Rats

Simple item page
dc.contributor.authorArika, Wycliffe Makori
dc.contributor.authorKibiti, Cromwell Mwiti
dc.contributor.authorNjagi, Joan Murugi
dc.contributor.authorNgugi, Mathew Piero
dc.date.accessioned2020-02-18T08:17:31Z
dc.date.available2020-02-18T08:17:31Z
dc.date.issued2019
dc.descriptionResearch paperen_US
dc.description.abstractObesity is the main component of metabolic syndromes involving distinct etiologies that target different underlying behavioral and physiological functions within the brain structures and neuronal circuits. An alteration in the neuronal circuitry stemming from abdominal or central obesity stimulates a cascade of changes in neurochemical signaling that directly or indirectly mediate spontaneously emitted behaviors such as locomotor activity patterns, anxiety, and exploration. Pharmacological agents available for the treatment of neurologic disorders have been associated with limited potency and intolerable adverse effects. These have necessitated the upsurge in the utilization of herbal prescriptions due to their affordability and easy accessibility and are firmly embedded within wider belief systems of many people. Gnidia glauca has been used in the management of many ailments including obesity and associated symptomatic complications. However, its upsurge in use has not been accompanied by empirical determination of these folkloric claims. The present study, therefore, is aimed at determining the modulatory effects of dichloromethane leaf extract of Gnidia glauca on locomotor activity, exploration, and anxiety-like behaviors in high-fat dietinduced obese rats in an open-field arena. Obesity was experimentally induced by feeding the rats with prepared high-fat diet and water ad libitum for 6 weeks. The in vivo antiobesity effects were determined by oral administration of G. glauca at dosage levels of 200, 250, and 300 mg/kg body weight in high-fat diet-induced obese rats from the 6th to 12th week. Phytochemical analysis was done using gas chromatography linked to mass spectroscopy. Results indicated that Gnidia glauca showed anxiolytic effects and significantly increased spontaneous locomotor activity and exploration-like behaviors in HFD-induced obese rats. The plant extract also contained phytocompounds that have been associated with amelioration of the main neurodegenerative mediators, viz., inflammation and oxidative stress. These findings provide “qualified leads” for the synthesis of new alternative therapeutic agents for the management of neurologic disorders. However, there is a need to conduct toxicity studies of Gnidia glauca to establish its safety profiles.en_US
dc.description.sponsorshipThe authors wish to acknowledge the Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Biotechnology of Kenyatta University for allowing us to use the departmental animal house facility for rats breeding and performing the efficacy studiesen_US
dc.identifier.citationBehavioural Neurology, Volume 2019en_US
dc.identifier.issn1875-8584
dc.identifier.urihttp://ir-library.ku.ac.ke/handle/123456789/20159
dc.language.isoenen_US
dc.publisherHindawien_US
dc.subjectDCM Leaf Extracten_US
dc.subjectGnidia glauca (Fresen)en_US
dc.subjectLocomotor Activityen_US
dc.subjectObese Ratsen_US
dc.subjectKenyaen_US
dc.titleEffects of DCM Leaf Extract of Gnidia glauca (Fresen) on Locomotor Activity, Anxiety, and Exploration-Like Behaviors in High-Fat Diet-Induced Obese Ratsen_US
dc.typeArticleen_US
Files
Original bundle
Now showing 1 - 1 of 1
Thumbnail Image
Name:
Effects of DCM Leaf Extract of Gnidia glauca Frese.pdf
Size:
1.55 MB
Format:
Adobe Portable Document Format
Description:
Full Text Article
Download
License bundle
Now showing 1 - 1 of 1
No Thumbnail Available
Name:
license.txt
Size:
1.71 KB
Format:
Item-specific license agreed upon to submission
Description:
Download
Collections
RP-Department of Biochemistry and Biotechnology