Neuroprotective Effects of Purslane Seeds against Adverse Effects Induced by Experimental Hyperlipidemia on Frontal Cortex and Cerebellum in Young Male Albino Rats

Background. Hyperlipidemia is characterized by abnormally elevated levels of lipids and is positively associated with cerebrovascular diseases. Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a chronic brain disorder characterized by cognitive impairment, inflammation, β-amyloid deposition, and vascular damage. Recent studies have shown that high cholesterol levels are linked to the pathology of AD. Purslane seeds are medicinal plants rich in unsaturated fatty acids (omega-3), antioxidants, and fibers. They are known to have antidiabetic and antiatherogenic activities. The aim of this research is to study the structural alterations occurring in the frontal cortex and cerebellum after feeding high cholesterol diet, and the possible protective role of purslane seeds. Materials and methods. Forty male albino rats were used in the study. They were divided into three groups; control group (20 rats), hypercholesterolemic group (10 rats) who were fed the balanced diet supplemented with cholesterol at a dose of 2 gm/100 gm diet, and protected group (10 rats) who were fed the same previous hypercholesterolemic diet concomitant with purslane seed 20% (20 gm/100 ml water). After 3 months, blood samples were collected from all rats for biochemical estimation and fresh specimens were taken from the frontal cortex and cerebellum of each rat and processed for; light microscopic examination using H&E and Orcein stains. Results. Significant increase of serum triglyceride (TG), total cholesterol (TC), and low-density lipoprotein (LDL-C) levels in hyperlipidemic rats were detected. Associated structural changes in the frontal cortex of the rats were evident as pyknotic nuclei of degenerated neurons, loss of neuron, dilation and congestion of blood vessels, expanded perivascular space, and increased vacuolar spaces of neuropil. The cerebellar cortex of the rats fed on high cholesterol diet revealed pyknotic nuclei of degenerated neuron and decrease in the number of Purkinje and granule cells compared to the control group. Concomitant administration of purslane seeds revealed evident amelioration of biochemical and most of the structural changes. Conclusion. We concluded that a high cholesterol diet has deleterious biochemical changes associated with structural alteration in the frontal cortex and cerebellum and purslane seeds ameliorate most of these changes.