Neuroprotective Effect of Ethanolic Leaf Extracts of Vernonia Amygdalina and Cymbopogon Citratus on Diabetes Induced Cognitive Impairments in Mice

Abstract

Evaluation of learning and memory enhancing efficacy of ethanolic leaf extracts of vernonia amygdalina and cymbopogon citratus was studied in alloxaninduced diabetic mice to scientifically validate its usefulness traditionally. Upon induction and confirmation of diabetes using alloxan monohydrate, forty mice were randomly divided into 8 groups of 5 mice each and treated with low and high doses of the extracts (400 and 800mg/kg). Metformin, a standard antidiabetic drug was used as a reference agent and given to group 8. Results revealed that diabetes induced memory impairment in neurobehavioural assessment and histomorphological examination of the hippocampus. However, administration of ethanolic leaf extracts of vernonia amygdalina and cymbopogon citratus reveals its neuroprotective potential by ameliorating the histological alterations in the hippocampus (CA1 region) relative to the control and attenuating the learning and memory impairments when compared with the control. Findings from this study suggests the ethanolic leaf extracts of vernonia amygdalina and cymbopogon citratus are potentially efficacious in attenuating diabetes induced memory deficit and alterations in the hippocampus of mice and could be utilized for the treatment and management of diabetes and dementia.