Parkia biglobosa (Jacq.) R. Br. (Fabaceae) is a widely distributed tree, used in traditional medicine to treat amebiasis, hookworm infection, ascariasis, asthma, sterility, dental pain, headaches, cardiac disorders, and epilepsy. To date, no study on the effect of an aqueous extract of P. biglobosa on epileptogenesis and associated neuropsychiatric disorders has been undertaken. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate antiepileptogenic-, antiamnesic-, and anxiolytic-like effects of an aqueous extract of P. biglobosa using pentylenetetrazole (PTZ)-induced kindling in mice. Animals were divided into six groups of eight mice each. Thus, a PTZ group received distilled water (10 ml/kg, per os), a positive control group received sodium valproate (300 mg/kg, p.o.), and three test groups received the aqueous extract of P. biglobosa (80, 160, and 320 mg/kg, p.o.).In addition, a control group of eight mice receiving distilled water (10 ml/kg, p.o.) was formed. The treatments were administered to mice, 60 min before administration of PTZ (20 mg/kg, i.p.). These co-administrations were performed once daily, for 22 days. The number and duration of seizures (stages 1, 2, 3, and 4 of seizures) exhibited by each mouse were assessed for 30 min during the treatment period. Twenty-four hours following the last administration of the treatments and PTZ, novel object recognition and T-maze tests were performed to assess working memory impairment in mice, while the open field test was performed to assess anxiety-like behavior. After these tests, the animals were sacrificed, and the hippocampi were collected for biochemical and histological analysis. During the period of PTZ-kindling, the extract at all doses completely (p < 0.001) protected all mice against stages 3 and 4 of seizures when compared to sodium valproate, a standard antiepileptic drug. The extract also significantly (p < 0.001) attenuated working memory impairment and anxiety-like behavior. In post-mortem brain analyses, the extract significantly (p < 0.001) increased γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) level and reduced oxidative stress and inflammation. Histological analysis showed that the aqueous extract attenuated neuronal degeneration/necrosis in the hippocampus. These results suggest that the extract is endowed with antiepileptogenic-, anti-amnesic-, and anxiolytic-like effects. These effects seem to be mediated in part by GABAergic, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory mechanisms. These results suggest the merit of further studies to isolate the bioactive molecules responsible for these potentially therapeutically relevant effects of the extract.

In Cameroon, epilepsy is one of the most common neurological diseases. Available anti-epileptic medication, on the other hand, have been associated with pharmacological toxicity and emotional impairment. The identification of a more efficient replacement is critical. Recent research reveals that ferroptosis contributes to the pathophysiology of epilepsy and related anxiety disorders. Lantana camara is a plant with a high neuropharmacological potential, but its mechanisms of action have yet to be understood. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of ethanolic and aqueous extracts of Lantana camara on the kainate model of epilepsy in mice. The focus was on these extracts' capacity to suppress ferroptosis. Mice were injected with kainate (12 mg/kg, i.p.) to induce epilepsy. After status epilepticus, animals were left for 19 days, which correspond to an epileptogenic period. After the appearance of spontaneous recurrent seizures, mice were treated with distilled water (10 ml/kg, p.o.), levetiracetam (80 mg/kg, p.o.), sodium valproate (300 mg/kg, p.o.), ethanolic extract of L. camara (230, 460, 920 mg/kg, p.o.), or an aqueous extract of L. camara (460 mg/kg p.o.). These treatments lasted for 14 days. During this period, the number and duration of seizures were recorded. The mice were then subjected to elevated zero-maze and open field tests to assess anxiety-like behavior. At the end, mice were sacrificed and hippocampus, amygdala, and striatum were dissected out for biochemical and histological analyses. The extracts alleviated seizure- and anxiety-like behavior in KA-treated mice. Decreased iron levels, reflected by a decrease in ferritin levels and a increase in transferrin levels, were observed in the hippocampus, striatum and amygdala of the extract-treated group compared to the KA-treated group. In addition, increase in GABA and GSH levels, and a decrease in MDA levels were observed in these groups. Hematoxylin-eosin staining revealed less pronounced neuronal degeneration and a more sustained architecture in the brain region of extract-treated mice. These findings indicated that ethanolic and aqueous extracts of L. camara effectively attenuate seizures and anxiety disorders. Probable mechanisms of action include GABAergic, iron, GSH, and MDA modulations.

Introduction: Alzheimer's disease is a neurodegenerative disease that alters learning and memory processes. Kalanchoe crenata (Crassulaceae) has long been used in Cameroonian traditional medicine to treat hypertension, malaria, and dementia. The present study aims to evaluate the anti‐amnesic effect of an aqueous extract of K. crenata in D‐galactose‐treated rats and possible mechanisms of action.Methods: Memory impairment was induced in rats by subcutaneous injection of D‐galactose (350 mg/kg) once daily for 30 days. At the end of the procedure, the animals were assessed for memory impairment using Morris water maze and object recognition tasks. Animals with memory impairment were divided into six groups of eight rats each and treated once daily for 24 days as follows: the negative control group received per os distilled water (10 mL/kg); the positive control group received donepezil (2 mg/kg, p.o.); and three test groups received the extract of K. crenata (62, 124, and 248 mg/kg, p.o.). A group of eight rats was added and served as a control group. After completion of the procedure, the memory deficit in rats was reassessed by the object recognition test on Day 15 of the treatment, the Morris water maze test on Day 18, and the open‐field test on Day 24. At the end of behavioral experiments, the animals were sacrificed and some biochemical parameters in the hippocampus were estimated. In addition, histological analysis of the hippocampus was performed.Results: K. crenata significantly decreased the time to reach the platform and increased the time spent in the target quadrant of the Morris water maze. It also increased the discrimination index during the object recognition test. The extract significantly reversed D‐galactose‐induced oxidative stress and inflammation. This was confirmed by the attenuation of neuronal loss.Conclusion: These findings suggest that K. crenata extract possesses an anti‐amnesic‐like effect probably mediated by antioxidant and anti‐inflammatory mechanisms.

The bark of Entandrophragma cylindricum (Meliaceae) is used in traditional Cameroonian medicine to treat jaundice, gastric ulcers, wounds, pain, and malaria. Chronic consumption of "Odontol," a traditional Cameroonian artisanal alcohol, is associated with hepatotoxicity and progressive neurological impairment. This study evaluated the neuroprotective, anti-amnesic, and antidepressive potentials of the aqueous bark extract of E. cylindricum in a rat model of "Odontol"-induced neurotoxicity. Following collection and extraction of the plant, HPLC analysis was performed to determine the compounds present in the plant extract. The aqueous extract was administered concomitantly with "Odontol" at 200, 300, and 400 mg/kg/day for 41 days in male Wistar rats, with silymarin (100 mg/kg) as reference drug. Behavioral assessments included open field test, forced swim test, novel object recognition test, and Morris water maze test. On day 42, blood, liver, and hippocampal tissues were collected for biochemical, oxidative stress, neuroinflammatory, and histological analyses. CBdock2 and Biovia discovery studio 2024 were used to perform molecular docking between Entandrophragma cylindricum identified compounds and target proteins GABAr A, NMDA receptor AchE and CaMK. "Odontol" induced significant anxiety-like behavior, increased immobility, and cognitive deficits. Hippocampal analysis revealed elevated Ca²⁺, serotonin, TNF-α, IL-1β, malondialdehyde, and nitrite, and reduced GABA, acetylcholine, BDNF, glutathione, catalase, and magnesium. Histology showed neuronal necrosis and reduced cell density in CA1, CA3, and dentate gyrus regions. Extract at 300 and 400 mg/kg significantly attenuated all behavioral, biochemical, and histological alterations compared to silymarin. Although molecular docking remains predictive, compounds such as rutin and quercetin bound to target proteins with significant binding energies, thereby potentially modulating the activity of these proteins to protect against Odontol-induced neurotoxicity. E. cylindricum aqueous bark extract exerts antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-amnesic, and antidepressive effects, likely through its biochemical constituents.