Abstract

Aluminum (Al)-induced toxicity in fruit fly (Drosophila melanogaster) is one of the established models for studying neurotoxicity and neurodegenerative diseases. Alkaloid phytochemicals have been reported to exhibit neuroprotective effects. Therefore, the aim of this study is to determine the effect of alkaloid extracts of Andrographis paniculata and Phyllanthus amarus leaves on Al-induced toxicity in wild type Drosophila melanogaster. The flies were exposed to diets containing 40 mM AlCl₃, and the alkaloid extracts (0.1 and 1 mg/ml). Thereafter, the flies were assessed for learning and memory, as well as locomotor performance 14 days post-treatment. This was followed by homogenizing the flies and the homogenates were assayed for acetylcholinesterase, monoamine oxidase and catalase activities, as well as the malondialdehyde content. The results showed that the alkaloid extracts of both leaves could ameliorate the aluminum-induced behavioral and biochemical impairments in the flies. The HPLC analysis of the alkaloid contents revealed that there is an abundance of Amaryllidaceae alkaloids, caffeine and carpaine. Thus, alkaloid extracts from these leaves could serve as promising therapeutic candidates for the management of neurodegenerative disease.

摘要

铝 (Al) 诱导的果蝇 ( Drosophila melanogaster)毒性是研究神经毒性和神经退行性疾病的已建立模型之一。据报道，生物碱植物化学物质具有神经保护作用。因此，本研究的目的是确定穿心莲和叶下珠叶生物碱提取物对野生型黑腹果蝇铝毒性的影响。将苍蝇暴露于含有 40 mM AlCl _{3的饮食中}, 和生物碱提取物 (0.1 和 1 mg/ml)。此后，在治疗后 14 天评估苍蝇的学习和记忆以及运动表现。随后对果蝇进行匀浆，并测定匀浆的乙酰胆碱酯酶、单胺氧化酶和过氧化氢酶活性以及丙二醛含量。结果表明，两片叶子的生物碱提取物都可以改善铝引起的果蝇行为和生化损伤。生物碱含量的 HPLC 分析表明，石蒜科生物碱、咖啡因和卡帕因含量丰富。因此，来自这些叶子的生物碱提取物可以作为治疗神经退行性疾病的有希望的候选药物。