Objective: To evaluate anti-dementia properties of the selected herbal anti-inflammatory remedies

Background: Parkinson’s disease (PD) is the most common age-related neurodegenerative disease after Alzheimer’s disease. Chronic neuroinflammation and memory impairment are considered hallmarks of the pathophysiology of PD. Emerging evidence from animal models of PD established strong involvement of inflammatory pathways and glial cell activation in the pathogenesis of PD. However, some herbal anti-inflammatory remedies have been ethnomedicinally claimed to prevent or reverse age-related dementia, hence, this study.

Method: Ethno-medicinal survey of herbal remedies that are used in the management of inflammation was carried out in the Ibarapa Area of Oyo State, Nigeria. Frequently mentioned or commonly used herbs as obtained in the survey were selected and evaluated using both in vitro and in vivo anti-inflammatory models. Phytochemical screenings and toxicological assays of some of the collected samples were also carried out. Currently, crude extracts of some selected herbs are being evaluated for their antioxidant and anti-cholinesterase activities. Thereafter, crude extracts of promising herbal remedies will be screened for possible neurocognitive and neuroprotective activities on Y maze, Elevated plus maze (EPM), and Novel Object Recognition Task (NORT) using MPTP-induced PD model in mice.

Results: About fifty herbal remedies used in the management of inflammatory conditions and claimed to modulate age-related dementia were identified. Prominent among the identified remedies whose toxicity studies, anti-inflammatory, analgesic or antinociceptive, and/or neurobehavioural activities have been evaluated are Apis spp. (honey and its products), Terminalia macroptera, Telfairia occidentalis,  Parquitena nigrescens, Lannea kerstingii, Bryophyllum pinnatum, Combretum micranthum, Crinum jagus, Entandrophragma utile, Gliricidia sepium, Maerua angolensis, Nigella sativa, Piper guineense, Phyllanthus amarus, Chromolaena odorata, Moringa oleifera, Vitex-Agnus castus, Zingiber officinale, Olax subscorpioidea among others. The selected herbal remedies exhibited significant anti-inflammatory and neurobehavioural properties as claimed.

Conclusion: Current preliminary data are showing promising results thus encouraging further studies.

References: 1. Akanmu M. A., Olowookere T. A., Atunwa S. A., Ibrahim B. O., Lamidi O. F., Adams P. A., Ajimuda B. O. & Adeyemi L. E. (2011) “Neuropharmacological Effects of Nigerian Honey in Mice” African Journal of Traditional, Complementary and Alternative Medicines, 8(3):230–249 2. Amali, M.O., Atunwa, S.A., Aiyelero, M.O., Usman, S.O., Olapade, A.I., Oyedotun, E.O., & Omotesho, Q.A. (2019): Acute Toxicity Study and Evaluation of the Anxiolytic Activity of the Ethanol Leave Extract of Bryophyllum pinnatum (Kurz) in Mice. Journal of Pharmaceutical Research, Development and Practice, 3(1):27-35 3. Amali, M.O., Atunwa, S.A., Omotesho, Q.A., Oyedotun, E.O. & Olapade, A.I. (2020): Assessment of anxiolytic potential and acute toxicity study of Combretum micranthum G. Don. leaves (Combretaceae). Journal of Medicinal Plants for Economic Development, 4(1):1-8. 4. Atunwa S.A., Adeyemi O.I., & Owolabi A.R. (2019): Neurobehavioural Effects of Acute and Repeated Administrations of Sub-Psychotomimetic Dose of Ketamine in Mice. Ife Journal of Science and Technology (IfeJoST), 3(1):42-59 5. Atunwa S.A., Adeyemi O.I., & Owolabi A.R. (2017): Ketamine – Induced Analgesia in Mice at A Sub-Psychotomimetic Dose. West African Journal of Pharmacology and Drug Research, 32(1):30-36 6. Garuba T., Lateef A.A., Atunwa S.A., Lateef A.Y., Kolawole O.O., & Sabiu S. (2021) Nature of hematopoietic system alteration and organ damage induced by fungal filtrate of Pestalotiopsis microspora in vivo. Journal of Applied Pharmaceutical Science, 11(03):084–091 7. Kola-Mustapha A. T., Ghazali Y. O., Ayotunde H. T., Atunwa S. A, & Usman S. O. (2019) Evaluation of the Antidiarrheal Activity of the Leaf Extract of Parquetina nigrescens and Formulation into Oral Suspensions. Journal of Experimental Pharmacology, 11:65–72 8. Njinga N.S., Sule, M.I., Shittu, A.O., David, M.S., Amali, M.O., Bolaji, A.R., Abdullahi, S.T., Atunwa, S.A. Hassan, H.S. & Eniayewu, O.I. (2018): Phytochemical, antibacterial and anticonvulsant activity of the stem bark of Lannea kerstingii Engl. & K. Krause (Anacadiaceae), Journal of Pharmacy & Bioresources, 15(2):110-119 9. Olatunbosun L. O., Khalil E. A. G, Atunwa S. A., Abdullaahi A. A., Salawu M. K., Ogunwale K. A. T., Olalere F. D., Lawal S. A., Abdulrafiu M., Olutunde O. A., Afolabi O. O. & Nafiu A. B. (2018) Safety and toxicity of aqueous leaf extracts of Camellia sinensis, Parquetina nigrescens and Telfairia occidentalis in mice, African Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology, 12(18):208-220 10. Salawu, M.K., Atunwa, S.A. & Eniayewu O.I. (2020): Cytotoxicity and Anti-Proliferative Studies of Crinum jagus L. (Amaryllidaceae) Bulb Extract, Bima Journal of Science and Technology (BJST), 4(1):131-140 11. Usman S.O., Agunu, A., Atunwa S.A., Hassan, S., Sowemimo, A. & Salawu, M.K. (2017): Phytochemical and Anti-Inflammatory Studies of Ethanol Extract of Terminalia macroptera Guill. & Perr. Combretaceae) Stem Bark in Rats and Mice, Nigerian Journal of Pharmaceutical Research, 13(2):147-156

« Back to MDS Virtual Congress 2021

MDS Abstracts - https://www.mdsabstracts.org/abstract/exploring-the-potential-anti-dementia-roles-of-selected-herbal-anti-inflammatory-remedies-in-parkinsons-disease-hopes-and-challenges/