Abstract

Nerium oleander Linn. (Family: Apocynaceae) is a Ayurvedic traditional ornamental plant in Indian gardens useful in various ailments including indigestion, malaria, leprosy, mental and venereal diseases. It is also used as cardiac tonic, aborifacient, diuretic, molluscicide and insecticide and for the treatment of epilepsy, snake bites and skin condition such as leprosy, pruritus, ulcers, ringworm infection, and scabies. Preliminary neuropsychopharmacological screening also revealed cognition enhancing ability of this plant, especially the flower extract. The present study aims at evaluating the potential effectiveness of the methanol extract of the flowers of this plant in dementia related to Alzheimer’s disease (AD), owing to its inherent cognition enhancing ability. Dementia was induced in animals by feeding excess Copper and Aluminium in drinking water and confirmed by Radial 8 arm maze test. Several biochemical parameters were also estimated including superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione-oxidized (GSSG), reduced glutathione (GSH), nitrite estimation, myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity and acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity. Lipid profile was also investigated along with the histopathological observations to further strengthen the results of the study. Results indicated a neuroprotective profile of the methanol extract of the flowers of N. oleander L. as well as revealed a reversal of the dementia.

Keywords: Dementia, Alzheimer's disease, Nerium oleander, acetylcholinesterase, neuroprotective, Radial 8 arm maze, superoxide dismutase, myeloperoxidase, rat model, methanolic extract.