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Advanced Neurology

ORIGINAL RESEARCH ARTICLE
Neuroprotective effects of Tetrapleura tetraptera

fruit extract on hippocampal histological
features in pentylenetetrazol-induced kindling

in Wistar rats

Clementina F. Iniodu, Gabriel J. Ekandem, and Moses B. Ekong*
Department of Human Anatomy, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Uyo, Uyo, Akwa
Ibom, Nigeria

Abstract

Seizures are a hallmark of epilepsy and often lead to cognitive impairment. However,
most antiepileptic medications have limited efficacy in this context and are
associated with negative consequences with prolonged use. Tetrapleura tetraptera,
an antioxidant-rich plant known for its anticonvulsant properties, prompted this
study to examine its role in hippocampal protection after pentylenetetrazol (PTZ)-
induced kindling. Phytochemical screening and median lethal dose assessments
*Corresponding author: of the T. tetraptera fruit extract (TFE) were conducted. Forty-nine male Wistar rats
Moses B. Ekong
(mosesekong@uniuyo.edu.ng) (150 – 200 g, n=7 per group) were assigned as follows: Control, TFE (500 mg/kg), PTZ
alone (40 mg/kg), and PTZ (40 mg/kg) following sodium valproate (200 mg/kg) or
Citation: Iniodu CF, Ekandem GJ,
Ekong MB. Neuroprotective TFE at low (250 mg/kg), intermediate (500 mg/kg), and high (1,000 mg/kg) doses
effects of Tetrapleura tetraptera over 21 alternate days. PTZ was administered intraperitoneally, while all other
fruit extract on hippocampal treatments were given orally. On day 22, spontaneous alternation behavior (SAB)
histological features in
pentylenetetrazol-induced was assessed, followed by euthanasia and histological analyses. Phytochemical
kindling in Wistar rats. Adv Neurol. analysis of TFE identified phenols, alkaloids, and flavonoids as key constituents, and
2025;4(1):80-93. its oral median lethal dose was greater than 5,000 mg/kg. Pre-treatment with TFE
doi: 10.36922/an.6862
showed suppressed seizures with quantal protection (p<0.05) compared to the PTZ
Received: December 3, 2024 group. While SAB was not significantly different, hippocampal Nissl expression was
1st revised: December 23, 2024 mildly affected, and neuron-specific enolase (NSE)-positive cells and glial fibrillary
acidic protein (GFAP)-positive cells significantly decreased (p<0.05) compared with
2nd revised: December 31, 2024
the control group. Therefore, oral administration of TFE is safe in Wistar rats with
Accepted: January 15, 2025 protection against PTZ-induced seizure and mortality. While short-term memory
Published Online: January 31, remained unaffected, the hippocampal Nissl substance, NSE, and GFAP were
2025 preserved, particularly in the low and intermediate TFE dose groups.
Copyright: © 2025 Author(s).
This is an Open-Access article
distributed under the terms of the Keywords: Hippocampus; Pentylenetetrazol; Tetrapleura tetraptera; Sodium valproate;
Creative Commons Attribution Immunohistochemistry; Nissl substance
License, permitting distribution,
and reproduction in any medium,
provided the original work is
properly cited.
1. Introduction
Publisher’s Note: AccScience
Publishing remains neutral with Seizures are a major characteristic of epilepsy, occurring recurrently due to an
regard to jurisdictional claims in
published maps and institutional imbalance in excitatory glutamate and inhibitory gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA)
1,2
affiliations. neurotransmitters. This disorder could be inherited or acquired from conditions,

Volume 4 Issue 1 (2025) 80 doi: 10.36922/an.6862