DANIELLIA OLIVERI LEAF METHANOL EXTRACT MITIGATES REDOX IMBALANCE AND NEURONAL DEGENERATION IN BRAIN OF WISTAR RATS EXPOSED TO DIMETHYLAMINE

*Ayobami T. E. and Adeleke G. E.

The present study examines the effects of Daniellia oliveri leaf methanol extract on DMA toxicity in blood and brain of male Wistar rats. Sohxlet extraction method was used to obtain Daniellia oliveri leaf methanol extract (DOLME). Seven groups (A – G) of rats (average weight of 154g) were used with five rats per group. Group A served as Control and group B was given intraperitoneal injection of DMA alone (10 mg/kg). Groups C to G were treated with DOLME (50, 100, 150, 200, 250, mg/kg) by oral gavage and DMA (10mg/kg) by intraperitoneal injection. The DOLME was administered every other day, while DMA was administered once per week. After 28days, the rats were sacrificed by cervical dislocation, while blood was collected for hematology. One portion brain tissue was processed for biochemical assays (superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione-s-transferase, reduced glutathione and glutathione peroxidase), while the hippocampus of the brain was fixed for histology and Immunohistochemical assays of glial fibriliary acidic protein (GFAP) and synaptophysin. The DMA significantly elevated RBC, hematocrit, WBC, monocytes and platelets relative to control group, which DOLME was able to reverse. The brain SOD and catalase activities were reduced, while GST was elevated relative to controls. The DOLME reversed the changes. The DMA caused hippocampal neuronal degeneration, which DOLME reversed. Strong expression of GFAP was noticed on degenerated astrocytes, while moderately high expression of neuronal synaptophysin was noticed in the brain hippocampus of rats treated with DMA. The DOLME caused mild to moderate expression of GFAP and mild expression of synaptophysin. The findings from this study reveal that Daniellia oliveri leaf methanol extract could potentially prevent Dimethylamine-induced hematological disorder and brain neuronal degeneration by improving antioxidant status in rat model.