Antidegenerative and Neurobehavioral Effects of Ethanolic Root Extract of Salacia reticulata on Mercury Chloride Induced Cellular Damage in the Hippocampus of Adult Male Mice

Mercury is a very harmful heavy metal and it has been shown to affect the nervous system mainly, and has contributed a lot to neurodegenerative diseases and disorders. Through time, there has been an increase in the search for more knowledge on how to address the treatment of the diseases associated with Mercury Chloride exposure. Researchers have shown some protective effect of some medicinal plants, which is why this study is done to investigate Salacia reticulata for protective effects against nervous disorders. The study was aimed at evaluating the antidegenerative effects of Salacia reticulata on mercury chloride exposure on the cellular architecture and spatial learning and memory of adult male mice. Twenty-five male mice with an average weight of (14.5-26 g) were divided into five groups of five mice per group and treated as follows. Group A; control group=2 mls of Placebo, Group B (HgCl2 at 7 mg/kgbw). Group C (HgCl2 at (7 mg/kgbw with Salacia reticulata at (200 mg/kgbw), Group D (HgCl at 7 mg/kgbw) with Salacia reticulata at (250 mg/kgbw). Group E (HgCl2; 7 mg/kgbw, with 0.2 ml pu of Vitamin E. HgCl2 was administered at a single dose orally while S. reticulate was administered orally daily for 14 days. The results from the Y-maze test showed an increase in the meantime taken by the animals to make alternations in the mercury treated group compared to the normal control group and Salacia reticulata treated groups, this is suggestive of neurological toxicity of mercury chloride to learning and memory loss. Histological results showed degeneration of the pyramidal cells of the hippocampus in mercury chloride treated group, while preservation of cellular profile and neuronal cells was seen in the Salacia reticulata treated group C and D as compared to group B (HgCl2 group only) and Vitamin E treated groups. Therefore, S. reticulata ameliorated memory loss in the hippocampus caused by mercury toxicity in adult male mice and is neuroprotective as seen in the microarchitecture of Pyramidal cells, fibers and neuropil evidenced in the hippocampus of mice treated.