IJAR.2024.246
Type of Article: Original Research
Volume 13; Issue 1 (March 2025)
Page No.: 9118-9126
DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.16965/ijar.2024.246
Neuroprotective Effects of Centella asiatica Against AlCl 3 and D-Galactose-Induced Astrocyte Activation and Hippocampal Neurodegeneration in Male Albino Wistar Rats
Thirupathirao. Vishnumukkala 1a,1b, Ravindra Kumar Boddeti 2, Prarthana Kalerammana Gopalakrishna 3, Barani Karikalan 4, Saravanan Jagadeesan5, Mohamad Taufik Hidayat B. Baharuldin6, Nurul Huda Mohd Nor 7, Mohamad Aris Mohd Moklas *8.
1a Ph.D Scholar, Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia.
1b Lecturer, Anatomy Discipline, Human Biology Division, School of Medicine, IMU University, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. ORCiD: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9517-3726
2 Associate Professor, Department of Anatomy, Parul Institute of Medical Sciences & Research, Faculty of Medicine, Parul University, Vadodara, Gujarat, India. ORCiD: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0569-1472
3 Lecturer, Physiology Discipline, Human Biology division, School of Medicine, IMU University, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. ORCiD: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1428-5305
4 Associate Professor, Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Bioscience and Nursing, MAHSA university, Bandar Saujana Putra, Selangor, Malaysia. ORCiD: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5751-346X
5 Associate Professor, Department of Anatomy, School of Medicine, Taylors University, Lakeside Campus, Selangor, Malaysia. ORCiD: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7389-7363
6 Professor, Department of Preclinical, Faculty of Medicine and Defence Health, National Defence University of Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. ORCiD: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4773-8531
7 Lecturer, Anatomy Unit, Department of Human Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia. ORCiD: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8136-5604
8 Professor, Anatomy Unit, Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Selangor, Malaysia. ORCiD: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9282-129X
Corresponding Author: Prof. Dr. Mohamad Aris Bin Mohd Moklas. PhD (Nottingham University), Anatomy Unit, Department of Human Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Selangor, Malaysia.+603-97692783 E-Mail: aris@upm.edu.my
ABSTRACT
Background: Alzheimer’s disease (AD) a neurodegenerative disorder is a leading cause of dementia in the elderly population. The concurrent dosing of rats with aluminium chloride (AlCl3) and D-galactose (D-gal) is regarded an effective approach for developing an animal model to study AD. Centella asiatica (CA) demonstrates neuroprotective effects in both in vitro and in vivo studies. This research investigated the protective effects of CA against neurodegeneration of the hippocampus and activation of astrocytes in rats treated with AlCl3 and D-gal.
Materials and methods: Rats received AlCl3 at a dosage of 200 mg/kg body weight daily, D-gal at 60 mg/kg body weight daily, and CA at 100, 200, and 300 mg/kg body weight daily, in conjunction with donepezil at 1 mg/kg body weight daily, for a duration of 70 days. Following treatment, the brain tissue was fixed in 10% formalin for further histological analysis. Nissl staining was applied to examine the survival of CA2 neurons in the hippocampus, whereas Glial Fibrillary Acid Protein (GFAP) was employed to assess active astrocytes in the CA2 hippocampal area.
Results: The findings indicated that AlCl3 and D-gal could substantially harm the hippocampus CA2 pyramidal neurons in rats. Furthermore, it induced the activation of astrocytes in the rat hippocampus. Co-administration of CA at doses of 100mg, 200mg, and 300mg mitigated neurodegeneration and astrocyte activation in the hippocampus of the rats.
Conclusion: The findings indicate that CA may safeguard against morphological changes induced by AlCl3 and D-gal in rats. Molecular investigations are under underway to clarify the potential effects of CA.
Keywords: AlCl3, D-galactose, Neurodegeneration, Astrocytes, Centella asiatica, Hippocampus.
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