AMELIORATIVE EFFECTS OF AQUEOUS EXTRACT OF BRYOPHYLLUM PINNATUM LEAVES AND VITAMIN D ON CALCIUM LEVELS IN ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE INDUCED ANIMAL MODEL

ABSTRACT

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disease characterized by cognitive decline and accumulation of Tau plaques. This condition has demanded attention in recent times especially in non-tropical regions of the globe. Although, withe the recent application and administration of neurological boosting drugs, the damage wrought by AD on the brain has not been found to be reversible. Consequently, that AD is less prevalent in tropical regions like Sub-Saharan Africa, it has been suspected that varying differences in Vitamin D exposure due to sunlight is a viable factor. The aim of this research was to determine and establish amelioratve properties of aqueous Bryophyllum pinnatum leaf extract in combination with Vitamin D on the Calcium levels of Alzheimer's disease induced Albino Wistar rats. Twenty male Albino Wistar rats, weighing 170-210g, were procured and randomly divided into the following groups. Group 1: control (Standard diet; rat chow and tap water ad libitum) Group 2: AD induced, not treated (AlCl3 175mg/kg), Group 3: AD induced treated with Bryophyllum pinnatum leaves extract (125mg/kg), Group 4: AD induced treated with Bryophyllum pinnatum leaves extract (125mg/kg) and Vitamin D (0.5mg/kg). Drug administration was by oral route for 6 weeks. The animals were humanely sacrificed using cervical dislocation and 5ml of blood was collected for biochemical analyses. There was significant increase in Alzheimer’s disease group treated with aqueous Bryophyllum only and combination of aqueous Bryophyllum and vitamin D compared with control. In antioxidants, such as Super-oxide dimutase (SOD) and Glutathione peroxidase (GPx), there was significant increase in Alzheimer’s disease group treated with aqueous Bryophyllum only and combination of aqueous Bryophyllum and vitamin D compared with control, and significant increases in Alzheimer’s disease group treated with a combination of Bryophyllum and vitamin D compared with control only, respectively. Other antioxidants such as Catalase (CAT) and Malonaldehyde (MDA) had no significant increase across the groups. In conclusion, it was established that Alzheimer's disease affects the calcium levels in induced animals which may result in stunted neurotransmission and the administration of Vitamin D co-treated with Bryophyllum pinnatum leaves extract significantly ameliorates this condition.