Abstract

This study was to evaluate the effects of aqueous and ethanol fruit extracts of Phoenix dactylifera on the cerebellar cortex of Artesunate-Amodiaquine (AS–AQ) treated Wistar rats. Thirty-six adult male Wistar rats were randomly divided into nine groups (n=4). Group 1 served as the control; Group 2 received 2.86/8.75 mg/kg AS–AQ. Group 3 received 2.86/8.75 mg/kg AS–AQ + 100 mg/kg ascorbic acid; Groups 4, 5 and 6 received 2.86/8.75 mg/kg AS–AQ + 500 mg/kg aqueous extract of P. dactylifera (AEPD), 2.86/8.75 mg/kg AS–AQ + 1000 mg/kg AEPD and 2.86/8.75 mg/kg AS–AQ + 1500 mg/kg AEPD respectively. Groups 7, 8 and 9 received 2.86/8.75 mg/kg AS–AQ + 500 mg/kg ethanolic extract of P. dactylifera (EEPD), 2.86/8.75 mg/kg AS–AQ + 1000 mg/kg EEPD and 2.86/8.75 mg/kg AS–AQ + 1500 mg/kg EEPD respectively. All administration was orally done, and lasted for 28 days. Evidences of necrosis, chromatolysis and vacuolations were observed in the cerebellar cortex of the AS–AQ treated group. The histoarchitecture of the AEPD and EEPD treatment groups were preserved in a dose-dependent manner, and compared positively to the reference drug ascorbic acid treatment, with the AEPD-treated groups being better preserved. Amelioration of the severity of neurodegeneration by the extracts suggest that the extracts could have exerted their ameliorative effects by antioxidant activities ascribed to the phytochemicals present in the extracts.

Key words: Phoenix dactylifera L. cerebellum, Artesunate-Amodiaquine, Wistar rats.