Carica papaya Fruit Extract Protects the Cerebellum of Wistar Rats Against Acrylamide-Induced Oxidative Stress

Acrylamide is a water-soluble vinyl monomer produced industrially as an agent for the production of plastics and cosmetics, in waste water management as a flocculation agent, and naturally in fried, baked, and roasted foods, especially when heated beyond 120 °C. Acrylamide (AC) is associated with severe neurotoxic complications through the initiation of oxidative stress. Hence the use of Carica papaya (CP), a natural antioxidant, in protecting the cerebellum of Wistar rats against acrylamide-induced oxidative stress. Forty adult female Wistar rats (180-200 g) were divided into four groups (n=10): Control (1 mL distilled water), AC (25 mg/kg), CP (300 mg/kg), and CP+AC (300 mg/kg+25 mg/kg). All treatments were administered orally for 21 days. Thereafter, the rats were weighed, and neurobehavioural tests were done. The rats were sacrificed, while their cerebella were dissected out and preserved for oxidative stress, antioxidant markers, and histological and immunohistochemical studies. Data were analysed using analysis of variance at p<0.05. There was decreased body weight, locomotor activities, and forelimb grip strength in the AC-treated group compared with the control and other treated groups. Increased lipid peroxidation and nitric oxide levels, decreased glutathione (GSH) levels, and catalase, superoxide dismutase, and glutathione peroxidase activities in the AC-treated groups compared with the control and other treated groups. Histologically, degeneration, pyknosis, shrinking and loss of Purkinje neurons, reactive astrogliosis, and apoptosis occurred in the AC-treated group compared with the control and other treated groups. In conclusion, acrylamide induced oxidative stress in the rat cerebellum, and administration of CP fruit extract offered protection from its neurotoxic effects.