Publications scientifiques
* (Auteur correspondant)
Etienne Djeuzong
Danide Nguedia
Stéphanie Lewale
Jonas Kouamouo
Research Square
<title>Abstract</title> <bold>Background:</bold> Alzheimer's disease is a neurological condition that affects more than 44 million people worldwide. The available treatments target the symptoms rather than underlying causes. <italic>Ziziphus jujuba</italic> (Rhamnaceae) is used in traditional Cameroonian medicine to treat many disorders including memory impairments. The study aimed to evaluate the anti-amnesic and neuroprotective effects of <italic>Z. jujuba</italic> aqueous extract on scopolamine-induced memory disorders in rats. <bold>Methods:</bold> Learning and memory impairments were induced in rats by scopolamine (1mg/kg, i.p.) for 15 days. Rats that developed cognitive impairments were divided as follows: two positive control groups received piracetam (200 mg/kg, <italic>p.o.</italic>) or tacrine (1 mg/kg, <italic>p.o.</italic>); three test groups received the extract (29, 57, and 114 mg/kg, <italic>p.o., </italic>respectively) daily for 15 days. At the end of treatments, memory impairments were assessed by Morris water maze and Y-maze tests. Thereafter, animals were sacrificed and some biochemical parameters (oxidative stress, inflammation, and apoptosis) were estimated in the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex.<bold>Results:</bold> <italic>Z. jujuba</italic> decreased the time to reach the platform and increased the time in the target quadrant. However, it failed to affect spontaneous alternation in the Y-maze. Furthermore, the extract reversed scopolamine-induced oxidative stress, inflammation, and apoptosis. This was confirmed with the prevention of neuronal loss in the hippocampus or prefrontal cortex. <bold>Conclusions:</bold> These findings suggest that <italic>Z. jujuba</italic> extract possesses ant-amnesic and neuroprotective effects. It seems that these effects are mediated in part by antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-apoptotic activities. This, therefore, justify its use to treat dementia and psychiatric disorders in Cameroon’s folk medicine.
