Apigenin mitigates oxidative stress, neuroinflammation, and cognitive impairment but enhances learning and memory in aluminum chloride-induced neurotoxicity in rats

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Aluminum chloride (AlCl3) exposure has been linked to neurotoxicity in various animal models, presenting significant concern to human health due to its potential implications in neurodegenerativediseases.Aluminumchlorideisawidely recognizedneurotoxinandhasbeenusedasananimalmodelofAlzheimer’sdiseasevia mechanisms linked with oxidative stress and inflammation. The study investigated the potential ameliorative effect of apigenin on AlCl3-induced neurotoxicity in rats. METHODS: Forty adult male Wistar rats were randomly divided into four different groups– control, AlCl3 (100 mg/kg), apigenin (50 mg/kg) plus AlCl3, and apigenin (50mg/kg)aloneadministeredorallyfor14days. RESULTS: Our findings revealed AlCl3 exposure induced significant neurobehavioral deficits, oxidative stress, neuroinflammation, and loss of the Purkinje cell layer of the cerebellum. Treatment with apigenin attenuated neuroinflammation and enhanced learning and memorywithsignificant improvement in recognition index. DISCUSSION: Apigenin demonstrates promising ameliorative effects against AlCl3induced neurotoxicity in rats.