Amelioration of Aluminium Chloride (AlCl3) Induced Neurotoxicity by Combination of Rivastigmine and Memantine with Artesunate in Albino Wistar Rats
Praveen Kumar S. E1
, Kurady Laxminarayana Bairy2, Veena Nayak*1, Shiva Kumar Reddy3, Amruth Kiran4 and Abhijna Ballal31Department of Pharmacology, Kasturba Medical College Manipal, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal, Karnataka - 576104, India.
2Department of Pharmacology, RAK College of Medical Sciences, RAK Medical and Health Sciences University, P.O.Box 11172, Ras Al Khaimah, UAE.
3Centre for Molecular Neurosciences, Kasturba Medical College, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal, Karnataka - 576104, India.
4Department of Pharmacology, Melaka Manipal Medical College, Manipal, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal, Karnataka - 576104, India.
Corresponding Author E-mail: veena.nayak@manipal.edu
Abstract: Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is an age-related progressive disorder characterized by neurodegeneration and accumulation of abnormal proteins. Artesunate, an anti-malarial drug has recently been shown to have anti-inflammatory, antiviral, angiogenic and other pleiotropic effects. It has also improved cognitive decline induced by hepatic coma which is suggestive of its role in learning and memory. In view of this, the current study was planned to assess the effect of the combination of artesunate with rivastigmine and memantine in aluminium chloride induced neurotoxicity. The study was conducted on 24 male adult albino wistar rats which were divided into four groups (n=6). Group - I to IV received saline, aluminium chloride (AlCl3), AlCl3 + artesunate +rivastigmine, AlCl3 + artesunate + memantine for 60 days respectively. After the 60th day of treatment, all animals were subjected to a passive avoidance task. All the animals were then sacrificed to study the histopathological changes in the hippocampus. Artesunate in combination with rivastigmine and memantine showed significant improvement in memory impairment and reduced neuronal death. Neuronal viability was more prominent in combination treatments as shown by histopathological results. Artesunate in combination with rivastigmine and memantine could be useful in AD. Artesunate can be used as an adjuvant therapy because artesunate combined with standard drugs produced significant neuroprotective effect.
Keywords: Aluminium Chloride; Alzheimer Disease; Artesunate; Maze Learning Back to TOC