Neuromodulatory effect of solvent fractions of Africa eggplant (Solanium dadyphyllum) against KCN-induced mitochondria damage, viz. NADH-succinate dehydrogenase, NADH- cytochrome c reductase, and succinate-cytochrome c reductase

Abstract Background In the past few years, there has been a tremendous increase in the number of plant-based health supplements with respect to their safety and efficacy in diseases treatment and prevention. Solanum dasyphyllum, also known as Africa eggplant is ethnomedicinally used as an antivenom, pain reliever and anticonvulsant in various part of Nigeria, however, there is no scientific data to support some of these claims. Methods This study evaluated the protective effect of solvent fractions of Solanum dasyphyllum, hexane fraction of S. dasyphyllum (HFSD), dichloromethane fraction of S. dasyphyllum (DFSD), ethylacetate fraction of S. dasyphyllum (EAFSD), methanolic fraction of S. dasyphyllum (MFSD) and crude fraction of S. dasyphyllum (CFSD) on cyanide-induced oxidative stress and neurotoxicity in vitro in the cerebral cortex. Neuroprotective activities were evaluated by assaying for markers of oxidative stress, neurotoxicity and electron transport system enzymes via evaluating lipid peroxidation (LPO), protein carbonyl (PC), reduced glutathione (GSH), acetylcholinesterase (AChE), NADH-succinate dehydrogenase (NSD), NADH-cytochrome c reductase (NCR), and succinate-cytochrome c reductase (SCR) in the homogenate of cerebral cortex. Results The results showed that all solvent fractions of S. dasyphyllum significantly ameliorated cyanide-induced oxidative stress (P < 0.05). It inhibited the activity of acetylcholinesterase-HFSD (68.42 ± 5.37%), DFSD (36.32 ± 5.45%), EFA (20 ± 0.69%), MFSD (33.16 ± 4.8%) and CFSD (35.79 ± 2.8%), increased the activity of NSD [HFSD (94.74 ± 7.3%), EAFSD (78.95 ± 5.4%) and CFSD (60.53 ± 4.6%)], while DFSD (− 5.26 ± 1.4%) and MFSD (− 7.9 ± 0.4%) had a negative effect, increased the activity of NCR [HFSD (91.89 ± 7.1%), DFSD (90.54 ± 8.2%), EAFSD (62.16 ± 4.7%); MFSD (306.76 ± 7.2%) and CFSD (154.0 ± 8.1%)]. All the solvent fractions also significantly increased the activity of SCR [HFSD (70.59 ± 3.8%), EAFSD (58.82 ± 6.4%), MFSD (88.24 ± 9.0%) CFSD (76.47 ± 8.2%)] apart from DFSD (− 5.88 ± 1.2%) in rat cerebral cortex. Conclusion This result shows that S. dasyphyllum has neuroprotective activities, however HFSD shows the most potent bioactivities in maintaining mitochondria integrity by preserving the electron transport system. Further work can be done on isolating and characterizing the bioactive compound in HFSD for novel natural product in the treatment of neurological disorders

Reversal effect of Solanum dasyphyllum against rotenone-induced neurotoxicity

We earlier reported the protective effect of Solanum dasyphyllum against cyanide neurotoxicity. In furtherance to this, we investigated the protective effect of S. dasyphyllum against rotenone, a chemical toxin that causes brain-related diseases. Mitochondria fraction obtained from the brain of male Wistar rats was incubated with various solvents (hexane, dichloromethane, ethylacetate, and methanol) extracts of S. dasyphyllum before rotenone exposure. Mitochondria respiratory enzymes (MRE) were evaluated along with markers of oxidative stress. The inhibition of MRE by rotenone was reversed by treatment with various fractions of S. dasyphyllum. The oxidative stress induced by rotenone was also reversed by fractions of S. dasyphyllum. In addition, the ethylacetate fraction of S. dasyphyllum was most potent against rotenone-induced neurotoxicity. In conclusion, S. dasyphyllum is rich in active phytochemicals that can prevent some neurotoxic effects of rotenone exposure. Further study can be done in an in vivo model to substantiate our results