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ABSTRACT
Aluminium (Al) is a potentially toxic metal and its poisoning may lead to aluminium-induced bone disease, microcytic anemia and neurological dysfunction (encephalopathy). Looking back in time, studies have revealed the toxic actions of aluminium causing pathological conditions. Aluminium accumulation in the brain has been associated with neurodegenerative diseases. Natural antioxidants play an important role in scavenging the excess free radicals produced by aluminium-induced toxicity. Theobroma cacao, also known as Cocoa, has a great ethno-pharmacological importance hence, it can be used for the treatment of many chronic diseases. Accordingly, this study was designed to investigate the possible therapeutic effects of Theobroma cacao (CO) on aluminium-induced neurotoxicity in adult Wistar rats. After purchase and acclimatization, the adult Wistar rats were weighed and divided into six equal groups (control and experimental groups). Group A (Control) was administered 1 ml dH2O/day. Group B (Al) was administered 100mg/kg body weight (BW) of Al only. Group C (Al+ CO1) was administered 250 mg/kg BW/day of aqueous CO seed extract and 100mg/kg BW of Al. Group D (Al + CO2) was administered 500mg/kg BW of aqueous CO2 seed extract and 100 mg/kg BW of Al. Group E (CO1) was administered 250mg/kg BW of aqueous CO seed extract. Group F (CO2) was administered 500mg/kg BW of aqueous CO seed extract only. The administration, via an orogastric tube, lasted for 28 days and rats were fed with standard rat chow and had free access to water throughout the entire study period. Animals were weighed every two weeks before commencement and throughout the experiment. At the end of the experiment, neurobehavioral activity (Open field test, acute toxicity and NOR test) was evaluated, recorded, and the rats were then sacrificed for sample collection. Following appropriate harvesting of the hippocampus, the antioxidant activity and histological alterations were investigated. Results showed a significant decrease in final body weight (FBW) of rats in the Al group in contrast to the control and CO groups which showed a higher FBW. Comparison of neurobehavioral activity showed that rats in the Al group had significantly reduced neurobehavioral function compared to those in the Control and CO groups. Evaluation of antioxidant activity showed oxidative stress (low antioxidant activity) in the Al groups whereas the Control and CO groups had significantly higher antioxidant activity. In conclusion, the findings showed that aqueous Theobroma cacao seed extract was not toxic to the animals but had protective properties against aluminium toxicity. The results from this research provide the first evidence on the protective activity of CO against aluminium-induced hippocampal toxicity in adult Wistar rats.
