Volume : 13, Issue : 09, September – 2026

Title:

EVALUATION OF NEUROPROTECTIVE EFFECT OF MANILKARA ZAPOTA LEAF EXTRACT AGAINST ALUMINIUM CHLORIDE INDUCED MEMORY IMPAIRMENT ON WISTAR ALBINO RATS

Authors :

Sheshadrigowda T V*, T Balasubramanian, Suresha B S

Abstract :

Alzheimer’s disease is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder associated with cognitive and memory impairment, in which oxidative stress plays an important role in neuronal damage and disease progression. Medicinal plants containing antioxidant phytoconstituents may provide potential neuroprotective agents. The present study was undertaken to evaluate the antioxidant and neuroprotective potential of methanolic extract of Manilkara zapota leaves (MEMZL) against aluminium chloride-induced Alzheimer’s disease in rats. The leaves were extracted with methanol and subjected to preliminary phytochemical screening, while in-vitro antioxidant activity was evaluated using DPPH, phosphomolybdenum and ferric-reducing assays. In-vivo neuroprotective activity was evaluated in Wistar albino rats divided into five groups (n=6), with Alzheimer’s-like cognitive impairment induced using aluminium chloride (175 mg/kg, orally). Rivastigmine (2.5 mg/kg) was used as the standard drug, while MEMZL was administered at doses of 200 and 400 mg/kg. Memory function was assessed using Elevated Plus Maze, Y-maze and Cook’s Pole tests, along with evaluation of brain catalase activity, total protein concentration and histopathological changes in the cerebral cortex and hippocampus. Methanolic extraction yielded 14.06% w/w extract, and phytochemical screening revealed the presence of alkaloids, flavonoids, carbohydrates, steroids, saponins, glycosides, proteins, phenolic compounds and tannins. MEMZL exhibited concentration-dependent antioxidant activity with a DPPH IC₅₀ of 70.07 µg/ml. In aluminium chloride-treated rats, MEMZL improved behavioural parameters, restored brain catalase activity and total protein concentration, and reduced neuronal degeneration and pathological alterations in the cerebral cortex and hippocampus. The 400 mg/kg dose generally produced greater improvement than the 200 mg/kg dose. Overall, the methanolic extract of Manilkara zapota leaves demonstrated significant antioxidant and neuroprotective activity in the aluminium chloride-induced Alzheimer’s disease model, indicating its potential as a source of neuroprotective agents for further investigation.
Keywords: Manilkara zapota, Alzheimer’s disease, Antioxidant, Neuroprotection, Aluminium chloride, Cognitive impairment.

Cite This Article:

Please cite this article in press Sheshadrigowda T V et al., Evaluation Of Neuroprotective Effect Of Manilkara Zapota Leaf Extract Against Aluminium Chloride Induced Memory Impairment On Wistar Albino Rats.,. Indo Am. J. P. Sci, 2026; 13(09).

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