Protective effects of Camellia sinensis on alcohol-induced oxidative stress in postnatal developing cerebellum of rats
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Keywords

Camellia sinensis
alcohol
neurobehaviour
oxidative stress
developing cerebellum

Abstract

This study investigated the protective effect of Camellia sinensis (green tea) on alcohol-induced oxidative stress in developing rat cerebellum. Twenty-five female Wistar rats weighing between 160 and 210 g were made pregnant and divided into five groups (n=5). Group A, received water (control), Group B, received 1mL of 10% alcohol (Alc) (at a dose of 0.5 mL/100 g body weight), Group C, received 0.5 mL (0.5mL/100 g) of 15% Camellia sinensis extract only, Group D, received 0.5 mL of 10% Alc + 0.5 mL Camellia sinensis extract and Group E, received 0.5 mL of 10% Alc + 0.5 mL of 200 mg/kg of vitamin C. All administration was done orally from the 1st day of gestation to postnatal day 21. Neurobehavioural evaluation for muscular strength, balance and coordination was carried out on day 21 pups. Pups of days 1, 7, 14, 21, and 28 were sacrificed and the cerebellum dissected out for oxidative stress and morphological studies. In the alcohol-treated group, there was decreased forelimb grip strength, increased negative geotaxis, increased lipid peroxidation (LPO) and decreased GSH levels, SOD, CAT and GPx activities in the cerebellum compared with the control and other treated groups. Histologically, in the cerebellar cortex of day 21 pups, there was persistent external granular layer (EGL), reduced molecular layer (ML) thickness, Purkinje cell depletion and astrogliosis in the alcohol-treated group. Administration of Camellia sinensis extract and vitamin C to alcohol restored the altered neurobehavioural, biochemical and morphological deficits observed in the alcohol group. Camellia sinensis and vitamin C ameliorated maternal alcohol-induced oxidative stress and in the postnatal developing rat cerebellum.

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