article · Recent Advances in Natural Sciences
Exposure to heavy metals such as lead can cause severe damage to the brain, particularly in the prefrontal cortex. This investigation evaluated whether a leaf extract from the medicinal plant Syzygium guineense could counter lead-induced brain damage in Wistar rats. Animals were given lead alone or combined with different dosages of the plant extract over a two-week period. Rats receiving lead alone exhibited marked cellular damage, tissue vacuolation, and elevated oxidative stress markers. In contrast, animals administered higher doses of the extract, specifically at 250 and 400 milligrams per kilogram, displayed clear improvements in cognitive behaviour, cellular structure, and related metabolic indicators. The extract lowered malondialdehyde concentrations, altered glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase activity, and restored tissue integrity, indicating that higher doses provide measurable protective effects against lead neurotoxicity.
Lead poisoning is a persistent environmental health risk that can cause permanent neurological impairment. Discovering natural plant compounds that counteract heavy metal toxicity helps researchers understand how to protect vulnerable brain areas. Demonstrating that Syzygium guineense extract can reduce oxidative damage and protect brain cell structure supports the search for supportive therapies against heavy metal exposure.
This work points towards possible applications in botanical therapeutics or nutraceutical formulations targeting heavy metal toxicity. The primary beneficiaries could include pharmaceutical developers exploring plant-based neuroprotective agents. However, because the study is early-stage preclinical research conducted solely in rat models, substantial further investigation, including active compound isolation and clinical safety trials, is needed before real-world therapeutic use.
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Antimicrobial and wound-healing activities of Syzygium guineense are well documented, but its use in lead-induced neurotoxicity remains less explored. This study examined the effects of S. guineense leaf (SGL) extract on lead-induced prefrontal cortex (PFC) damage in Wistar rats. Twenty-five rats (60--80 g) were assigned to five groups (n = 5): control; lead (5 mg/kg); and lead + SGL extract at 100, 250, or 400 mg/kg. Behavior was assessed, and the PFC was excised for hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) and Cresyl Fast Violet (CFV) staining and for measurement of malondialdehyde (MDA), glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PDH), and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) after two weeks of treatment. PFC MDA was significantly higher (P < 0.05) in the lead-only group than in the SGL-treated groups and control, and G6PDH differed significantly (P < 0.05) between the lead-only and SGL-treated groups. The lead-only and 100 mg/kg SGL groups showed vacuolation and neuronal cells. Cognitive function, PFC histoarchitecture, and Nissl staining improved in the 250 and 400 mg/kg SGL groups. These findings suggest that higher doses of SGL extract can potentially ameliorate lead-induced PFC damage.
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DOI: 10.61298/rans.2026.4.2.301
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