Neuroprotective effect of dietary black seed flour on key enzymes linked with neuronal signaling molecules in rats exposed to mixture of environmental metals

Abstract

The study examined the neuroprotective effect of dietary black seed flour (D-BSF) in rats exposed to mixed-metals. Animals were divided into six groups (n58): normal control rats; normal rats treated with 10 and 20% black seed flour (D-BSF), respectively; intoxicated rat; intoxicated rats treated with 10 and 20% D-BSF, respectively for 14 days. Our results revealed that neuronal signaling molecules including acetylcholinesterase (AChE), butrylcholinesterase (BuChE), adenosine deaminase (ADA), monoamine oxidase-A (MAO-A) activities, and malonaldehyde (MDA) levels in cerebral cortex were significantly (p<.05) higher followed by alteration in the activity of econucleotidase using ATP, ADP, and AMP as substrates in rats exposed to mixed metals. Remarkably, D-BSF significantly (p<.05) inhibited the activities of AChE, BuChE, ADA, and MAO-A with corresponding wellness of the neuronal MDA contents. However, inhibition of AChE, BuChE, ADA, MAO-A, ectoenzymes activities suggests possible mechanisms by which D-BSF prevent mixed metal toxicity in cerebral cortex of male rats.