Efficacy of Ascorbic Acid on Frontal Cortex Damage Induced by Alcoholic Extract of Datura stramonium Leaf in Adult Male Wistar Rats

Introduction: Datura stramonium (DS) is a medicinal plant widely distributed across the globe, including in Nigeria and West Africa. Pharmacological, physiological, and histological studies have demonstrated the neurotoxicity of the plant in animals and humans. Ascorbic acid is a potent reducing agent and scavenger of free radicals in biological systems.

Aim: This study was undertaken to advance our knowledge on Datura stramonium leaf toxicity and investigate ascorbic acid efficacy on the frontal cortex damage induced by the alcoholic extract of Datura stramonium leaf in adult male Wistar rats.

Settings and Design: Thirty (30) adults male Wistar rats weighing about 120±20g were divided into six groups (A-F) of five animals each for oral administration over 14 days.

Materials and Methods:

Group A (Control): Received only rat feeds and water.
Group B: Received 200 mg/kg alcoholic extract of Datura stramonium.
Group C: Received 400 mg/kg alcoholic extract of Datura stramonium.
Group D: Received 200 mg/kg body weight alcoholic extract of Datura stramonium and 200 mg/kg body weight of Vitamin C.
Group E: Received 400 mg/kg body weight alcoholic extract of Datura stramonium and 200 mg/kg body weight of Vitamin C.
Group F: Received 200 mg/kg body weight of Vitamin C. The experimental animals were euthanized, and sections of the frontal cortex of the brain were harvested for histological procedures, organ weight (brain) and body weight of experimental animals were obtained.
The data was subjected to a one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA).

Results: Histological observations indicated that the administration of the alcoholic extract of DS leaf in Group C showed degeneration of neurons in the frontal cortex. Groups that received ascorbic acid along with DS leaf in smaller doses showed no significant changes and had normal neuronal cells and stroma. Changes observed in body weight were not statistically significant at p-value <0.05.

Conclusion: This study suggests that ascorbic acid effectively reduces the neurotoxicity potential of Datura stramonium on the frontal cortex. The DS leaf extract may have neurodegenerative effects at high doses, and precautions should be taken when consuming DS, as it may adversely affect and damage neurons in the frontal cortex.