Anticholinesterase and Antioxidant Potential of Aqueous Phyllanthus amarus Leaf Extract in Aluminium Chloride-Exposed Drosophila melanogaster

Abstract

Aluminium chloride (AlCl3) toxicity is associated with several neurodegenerative disorders, including Alzheimer’s dis-ease, via mechanisms of oxidative stress, impairment of cholinergic neurotransmission, and enhancement of acetyl-cholinesterase activity. Phyllanthus amarus (P. amarus) is a widely used medicinal plant with reported antioxidant properties, and accordingly, this study investigated the anticholinesterase and antioxidant potential of P. amarus against AlCl3-induced toxicity in Drosophila melanogaster. 200 drosophilas were divided into four groups, with 50 per group. The control group was reared on a cornmeal diet, while the AlCl3 group was treated with 40 mM of AlCl3 via their diet. The P. amarus group was treated with 2.5 mg of P. amarus, while the co-treatment group was co-treated with 40 mM AlCl3 and 2.5 mg of P. amarus via their diet for seven days. At the end of the experimental period, negative geotaxis was carried out to evaluate locomotor performance. The drosophilas were thereafter homogenised, and the supernatants were used to assay for acetylcholinesterase (AChE), malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and catalase (CAT) activities. Results showed a significant decrease in the survival rate, climbing activity, SOD, and CAT, as well as a significant increase in MDA and AChE activity in AlCl3-exposed drosophilas. However, co-treatment with P. amarus was able to significantly attenuate the toxicity of AlCl3. Taken together, the protective effect of P. amarus against AlCl3 is mediated possibly through its anti-cholinesterase and antioxidant properties and could therefore be relevant in the development of novel therapeutic agents useful for the treatment of AlCl3 toxicity and its related disorders