Cognitive Enhancing Properties of Aqueous Leaf Extract of Vigna Unguiculata in Ketamine-Induced Memory Damage in Mice
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Date
2023
Authors
Kipkemoi, Daisy Jepkosgei
Ireri, Anthony Murithi
Ngugi, Mathew Piero
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
www.bsmiab.org
Abstract
Conventional remedies for managing Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and related cognitive deficits
are not curative but relieve the symptoms and cause adverse side effects. Alternatively, use of
herbal therapies to manage cognitive illnesses has increased substantially. Vigna unguiculata is
commonly utilized for nutritional benefits and management of neurological disorders in
herbal medicine. The present study evaluated cognitive enhancing potential of V. unguiculata
leaf aqueous extract in mice with ketamine-induced AD-like cognitive deficits. Cognitive
performance indicated by step-through latency was assessed using passive avoidance test.
Anti-acetylcholinesterase (anti-AChE) and antioxidant potential of the extract were
determined using brains of the test animals. Further, phytochemical constituents of the
extracts were determined using LC-MS. Aqueous extract of V. unguiculata leaf demonstrated
significant prowess in combating cognitive deficits in the test animals. This was evidenced by
significantly higher (p<0.001) step-through latencies in extract-treated mice than the untreated
cognitively damaged mice. Moreover, cognitively impaired mice given the studied extract
exhibited significantly less (p<0.001) malondialdehyde levels and AChE activity than the
negative control mice. This result confirmed antioxidant and anti-AChE properties of V.
unguiculata, indicating its potential to attenuate oxidative stress in the brain and augment
cholinergic transmission. Notably, some conventional therapies for cognitive disorders,
especially AD, are AChE inhibitors. The studied extract contained phytocompounds such as
flavonoids and phenolics with confirmed antioxidant and anti-AChE activities, thus, its
cognitive enhancing efficacy could be attributed to these phytoconstituents. Collectively, this
study upholds V. ungiculata usefulness in management of cognitive illnesses.
Description
Article
Keywords
Alzheimer’s disease, Antioxidant potential, Acetylcholinesterase activity, Cognitive disorders, Vigna unguiculata