Protective potential of Lannea microcarpa fruit pulp extract on paraquat-induced oxidative stress and locomotor deficits in Drosophila melanogaster

Abstract

Exposure to environmental toxins like paraquat (PQ) produces a characteristic feature of Parkinson’s disease (PD) due to its ability to induce dopaminergic cell death and oxidative stress. The aim of this study was to investigate the protective potential of L. microcarpa fruit pulp extract (LMFE) on paraquat-induced oxidative stress and locomotor deficits in Drosophila melanogaster. The flies were randomly distributed into six groups. Group A was maintained on standard diet for 7 days; group B, PQ (20 mM, 24 hrs); group C and D maintained on diet containing 0.25 and 0.5% LMFE respectively; group E and F were pretreated with 0.25 and 0.5% of LMFE respectively for 6 days followed by PQ exposure for 24 h. PQ exposure resulted in high mortality and impairment of locomotor coordination in flies as well as elevated activity of acetylcholine esterase. Also, there were significant alterations (p<0.05) in activity of antioxidant enzymes, glutathione, malondialdehyde, protein carbonyl and fragmented DNA concentrations. Pretreatment of the flies with LMFE significantly improved the survival and locomotor ability of the flies as well as attenuating the PQ-induced increase in activities of acetylcholine esterase, catalase, superoxide dismutase and glutathione transferase. Paraquat-induced decrease in concentration of glutathione was completely reversed by LMFE. Furthermore, LMFE completely reversed the PQ-induced increase in levels of malondialdehyde, protein carbonyl and fragmented DNA. This study concludes that LMFE differentially reversed PQ-induced oxidative stress by restoring alterations in oxidative markers, antioxidant enzymes, acetylcholine esterase and by modulating locomotor coordination of the flies.