THE AMELIORATIVE EFFECT OF ALKALOID EXTRACT OF ELEPHANT KOLA (BUCHHOLZIA CORIACEA) SEED IN SCOPOLAMINE- INDUCED ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE IN RATS

Alzheimer’s disease (AD), a neurodegenerative brain disorder, has become a major health challenge occurring in the elderly population worldwide. This study aimed to investigate the ameliorative effect of an alkaloid-rich extract of Buchholzia coriacea (AEBC) seed on scopolamine-induced AD in rats. Twenty-five Wistar rats were divided into five groups (n=5). Group I served as the control and received no treatment; group II – V were intraperitoneally (i.p) administered with scopolamine (SCO, 1 mg/kg body weight (b.wt)); group III – V were orally administered donepezil (5 mg/kg b.wt) and AEBC (50- and 100 mg/kg b.wt), respectively. The SCO was administered for two weeks to stimulate AD and thereafter treated with donepezil and AEBC for another 2 weeks. The behavioral test was evaluated on the last day of treatment. Biochemical assays and gene expression implicated with AD were also evaluated at the end of animal experiment. The AD rats showed reduced memory and learning impairment. Also, the induction of SCO elevated the activities of acetylcholinesterase and adenosine deaminase, and levels of nitric oxide and malondialdehyde, and concomitantly decreased the activities of superoxide dismutase, glutathione-s-transferase and levels of reduced glutathione. Furthermore, the SCO increased the mRNA expression of beta-secretase-1 and monoamine oxidase B. The impaired memory and biochemical alterations in the rats caused by i.p injection of SCO were however, ameliorated by AEBC. Also, the increased mRNA expression of beta-secretase-1 and monoamine oxidase B were significantly (p < 0.05) reduced by the AEBC. In conclusion, the AEBC were able to ameliorate the scopolamine-induced AD in the rats and could be considered a potential adjuvant for LPS-induced AD.