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Enriched biscuits of Ficus Capensis modulates neurobehavioral performance and antioxidant status of L-NAME-induced hypertensive rats with anxiety-like behavior

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Abstract

Purpose

Anxiety and cognitive deterioration in hypertensive patients are underreported especially in hypertensive state. This study investigated the neuroprotective effect of Ficus capensis (FC) on cognition and anxiety-like behaviors in L-NAME-induced hypertensive male rats.

Method

Rats were administered 40 mg/kg/day L-NAME and treated with atenolol (10 mg/kg/day), diazepam (5 mg/kg/day), 2.5 g, and 5.0 g FC-enriched biscuits, respectively, (n = 8) per group for 21 consecutive days. Locomotor behavior was monitored using video-tracking software for open-field tests, elevated plus maze tests, and light and dark tests, and blood pressure was measured with non-invasive tail-cuff motoring. Furthermore, acetylcholinesterase (AChE), butyrylcholinesterase (BChE), antioxidant enzymes' activities in the hypothalamic and medulla brain regions, and histological staining in the hypothalamic brain section were deduced.

Results

Findings from this study indicated that treatment of L-NAME-induced hypertensive rats with FC significantly (p < 0.05) ameliorated cognitive deficits and anxiety-like behavior, specifically by decreasing cumulative immobility duration in open field, rearing, latency time, and number in the dark and increasing latency time and number in the light in light and dark boxes, and zonal alterations in elevated plus maze. Additionally, FC assuaged the L-NAME-induced decrease in brain antioxidant enzyme activities and increased AChE and BChE activity and lipid peroxidation levels in the hypothalamus and medulla of hypertensive rats.

Conclusion

Taken together, FC revealed its role in reducing L-NAME-induced cognitive decline and anxiety-like behavior in hypertensive rats to be linked to its ability to restore cholinesterase enzyme activity and augment redox status. However, FC had no effect on the brain structure of L-NAME hypertensive rats in the current study.

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Data availability

The data that support the findings of this study are made available by contacting the corresponding author (olufunke.ajeigbe@elizadeuniversity.edu.ng; olufunke2017@gmail.com).

Abbreviations

AChE:

Acetylcholinesterase

BChE:

Butyrylcholinesterase

CAT:

Catalase

CNS:

Central nervous system

EDRF:

Endothelium-derived relaxing

FC:

Ficus capensis

HPA:

Hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA)

L-NAME:

Nw (G)-nitro-L-arginine-methyl-ester

NO:

Nitric oxide

NOS:

Nitric oxide synthase

MDA:

Malondialdehyde

RAAS:

Renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system

ROS:

Reactive oxygen species

SBP:

Systolic blood pressure

SOD:

Superoxide dismutase

SNS:

Sympathetic nervous system

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biochemistry, School of Life Sciences, Federal University of Technology, P.M.B. 704, Akure, 340001, Nigeria

    Olufunke Florence Ajeigbe, Ganiyu Oboh & Ayokunle Olubode Ademosun

  2. Department of Physical and Chemical Sciences, Biochemistry Programme, Faculty of Basic and Applied Sciences, Elizade University, Ilara-Mokin, P.M.B. 002, Ondo State, Nigeria

    Olufunke Florence Ajeigbe

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Contributions

“All authors contributed to the study conception and design by [Olufunke Florence Ajeigbe]. The funding acquisition, material preparation, data collection and formal analysis were performed by [Olufunke Florence Ajeigbe] and [Ayokunle Olubode Ademosun]. Drafting of Manuscript visualization, and critical revision was done by [Olufunke Florence Ajeigbe] and [Ganiyu Oboh]. The first draft of the manuscript was written by [Olufunke Florence Ajeigbe] and all authors commented on previous versions of the manuscript. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.”

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Correspondence to Olufunke Florence Ajeigbe.

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Approval was issued at the Centre for Research and Development (CERAD), Federal University of Technology, Akure, Nigeria and assigned voucher registration number FUTA/ETH/21/08.

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Ajeigbe, O.F., Oboh, G. & Ademosun, A.O. Enriched biscuits of Ficus Capensis modulates neurobehavioral performance and antioxidant status of L-NAME-induced hypertensive rats with anxiety-like behavior. Nutrire 49, 20 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1186/s41110-024-00261-y

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