AMELIORATIVE EFFECTS OF KHAYA SENEGALESIS FLAVONOID AND TINOSPORA CORDIFOLIA CARDIAC GLYCOSIDE ON AMITRIPTYLINE INDUCED NEUROTOXICITY IN THE PREFRONTAL CORTEX.

ABSTRACT This study investigated the ameliorative effects of Khaya senegalesis flavonoid and Tinospora cordifolia cardiac glycoside on amitriptyline induced neurotoxicity in the prefrontal cortex. Eighty healthy male Wistar rats weighing 160-208g were grouped into 11 groups (n = 6): The experiment was divided in 2 phases, phase l: stroke induction, using a single dose of 1.2 mg/kg of AMT for 3 days. Phase ll: treatment groups, the rats were subdivided into AMT group (stroke rats), left untreated and 3 treatment groups, which were treated with KS orally, at doses of 200, 300 and 400 mg/kg body weight, designated as COMuo + AMT, cOMMD + AMT and cOMHo + AMT respectively, for a period of two weeks. Control was administered with distilled water. After administration the rats were euthanized using cervical dislocation and the brain were collected and fixed in 10% neutral buffered formalin for histological analysis. However, the histological result shows that there was normal neuro histology of the cortical cells or the prefrontal cells. AMT show serve degeneration in the prefrontal cortex with evidence of pycnotic nuclei astrocytosis, pyramidal cell with irregular shape and surrounded by pericellular halos, Perivascular Edema, and shrunken Granule cells deeply stained. In neurotoxicity, there was a significant increase in neurotoxicity parameters in AMT group compared to normal control. While treatment group, there was a significant decrease in neurotoxicity parameters. This study suggests that Khaya senegalensis cardiac glycoside and Tinospora cordifolia flavonoid can attenuate cortical neurotoxicity and prefrontal cortex possesses anti-inflammatory properties which could be of potential benefit in the treatment and management of ischemic stroke. Keywords: Khaya senegalesis, stroke, amitriptyline, neurotoxicity and prefrontal ccortex