Caffeic acid attenuates memory dysfunction and restores the altered activity of cholinergic, monoaminergic and purinergic in brain of cadmium chloride exposure rats.

Objectives: This study aims to evaluate the neuroprotective effect of caffeic acid (CAF) against cadmium chloride (CdCl ₂ ) in rats via its effect on memory index as well as on altered enzymatic activity in the brain of CdCl ₂ -induced neurotoxicity.
Methods: The experimental rats were divided into seven groups (n=6 rats per group) of healthy rats (group 1), CdCl ₂ -induced (CD) (3 mg/kg BW) rats (group 2), CD rats + Vitamin C (group 3), CD rats + CAF (10 and 20 mg/kg BW respectively) (group 4 & 5), and healthy rat + CAF (10 and 20 mg/kg BW respectively) (group 6 & 7). Thereafter, CdCl ₂ and CAF were administered orally to the experimental rats in group 2 to group 5 on daily basis for 14 days. Then, the Y-maze test was performed on the experimental rats to ascertain their memory index.
Results: CdCl ₂ administration significantly altered cognitive function, the activity of cholinesterase, monoamine oxidase, arginase, purinergic enzymes, nitric oxide (NOx), and antioxidant status of Cd rats (untreated) when compared with healthy rats. Thereafter, CD rats treated with vitamin C and CAF (10 and 20 mg/kg BW) respectively exhibited an improved cognitive function, and the observed altered activity of cholinesterase, monoamine oxidase, arginase, purinergic were restored when compared with untreated CD rats. Also, the level of brain NOx and antioxidant status were significantly (p<0.05) enhanced when compared with untreated CD rats. In the same vein, CAF administration offers neuro-protective effect in healthy rats vis-à-vis improved cognitive function, reduction in the activity of some enzymes linked to the progression of cognitive dysfunction, and improved antioxidant status when compared to healthy rats devoid of CAF.
Conclusions: This study demonstrated the neuroprotective effect of CAF against CdCl ₂ exposure and in healthy rats.
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