Abstract:
In this study, the nepuroprotective potential of
either Pergularia tomentosa leaf methanolic extract (PtE)
alone or in combination with selenium nanoparticles
(SeNPs-PtE) was investigated against lead acetate (PbAc)-
induced neurotoxicity. Experimental rats were pretreated
with PtE (100 mg/kg) or SeNPs-PtE (0.5 mg/kg) and injected
intraperitoneally with PbAc (20 mg/kg) for 2 weeks. Notably,
SeNPs-PtE decreased brain Pb accumulation and enhanced
the level of dopamine and the activity of AChE compared
to the control rats. In addition, elevated neural levels of
superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase,
glutathione reductase, and glutathione along with decreased
lipid peroxidation levels were noticed in pretreated groups
with SeNPs-PtE. Moreover, SeNPs-PtE significantly sup-
pressed neural inflammation, as indicated by lower levels
of interleukin-1 beta, interleukin-6, tumor necrosis factor-
alpha, nuclear factor-kappa B p65, and nitric oxide in the
examined brain tissue. The molecular results also unveiled
significant down-regulation in iNOS gene expression in
the brains of SeNPs-PtE-treated rats. In addition, SeNPs-
PtE administration counteracted the neural loss by increasing
B-cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2) and brain-derived neurotrophic
factor levels as well as decreasing BCL2-associated X protein
and caspase-3 levels. To sum up, our data suggest that
P. tomentosa extract alone or in combination with SeNPs
has great potential in reversing the neural tissue impairment
induced by PbAc via its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and
anti-apoptotic activities. This study might have therapeutic
implications in preventing and treating several lead-induced
neurological disorders.
