Neuroprotective Effects of Annona Muricata Ethanolic Leaf Extract on CyclophosphamideInduced Neurotoxicity in the Cerebral Cortex Using Wistar Rats

Alternative medicine has a lot of role to play in indigenous medicinal approach especially when it has to do with occupational hazards and natural products, especially those derived from plants, have been used to help mankind sustain its health since the dawn of medicine. Indigenous communities in Africa and South America extensively use annona muricata in their folk medicine due to its reported medicinal properties. This study evaluated the curative properties of ethanolic Annona muricata (soursop) leaves on cyclophosphamide induced cerebral cortex toxicity using adult male wistar rats. Twenty-four adult male wistar rats (180-200g) were assigned into six groups (n=4). Group 1 was the normal control group which received 1ml of normal saline and food. Group 2 received 40mg/kg of cyclophosphamide only, groups 3, 4 and 5 were administered with 100, 200 and 300mg/kg/day respectively of the Annona muricata extract respectively for 7 days and were induced with 40mg/kg/day of cyclophosphamide on day 8. Group 6 was administered with 50mg/kg of Vitamin E for seven (7) days and induced with 40mg/kg cyclophosphamide on day 8. At the end of the experiment, toxicity was measured histopathologically by light. Photomicrographs show severe tissue encephalopathy, cerebral infarction and selective neuronal necrosis in groups 2 and 3 while that of groups 4,5and 6 appeared normal suggesting protective properties of the leaf extracts. Hence, it was established that Annona muricata leaves had protective effects on cyclophosphamide induced toxicity