Therapeutic and Neuroprotective potentials of Spinacia oleracea (Spinach) Extract on Stress-induced Neurodegeneration in the Hippocampus of adult Wistar Rats

Abstract

Background of the study: Exposure to chronic stress is a risk factor for developing memory deficits. This work evaluated the therapeutic potential of ethanolic leaf extract of Spinacia oleracea (SO) on chronic restraint stress-induced neurodegeneration.

Material and Method: Twenty-four adult male Wistar rats (180-200g) were assigned into six groups, namely: the normal control group (0.5ml of normal saline), the stress control (2ml of normal saline), the low dose (stress + 200mg/kg extract), medium dose (stress + 400mg/kg extract), high dose (stress + 800 mg/kg extract) and positive control (stress + 20mg/kg of Fluoxetine). Chronic restraint stress was induced 2 hours daily for 21 days, followed by post-treatment with Spinacia Oleracea for another 14 days. Neurobehavioral (Y-maze, novel object recognition and elevated plus maze) tests were videotaped for proper scoring. At the end of the treatment, the blood sample was collected for oxidative stress and neuroinflammatory markers assay. The neuronal alteration was assessed histologically using Haematoxylin and Eosin staini on the hippocampus sample. The data collected were analyzed using the IBM SPSS package version 23 with p-value < 0.05.

Result: S. oleracea (200mg/kg and 800mg/kg) treatment significantly cures stress-induced memory impairment and cognition on Y-maze and novel object recognition test, respectively and increases time spent in the open arm in the elevated plus maze test. Administration of S. oleracea decreased lipid peroxidation level while increasing superoxide dismutase and glutathione-S-transferase activity in the treatment groups and significantly reduced stress-induced elevation of tumour necrosis factor (TNF-α) and Interleukin-1 (IL-1β). Furthermore, S. oleracea enhanced the histoarchitecture of the hippocampus in the treatment groups compared to the stress control.

Conclusion: S. Oleracea demonstrated therapeutic potential against chronic stress-induced neurodegeneration in the hippocampus.