Comparative protective activity of aqueous Zingiber officinale root and Theobroma cacao seed extracts on lead acetate-induced cerebellar toxicity in rats

Lead has been associated with human activities since time immemorial and is reported to induce antioxidant and neurobehavioral impairments in animals and humans. The present study examined and compared the protective activity of aqueous Zingiber officinale root (ZO) and Theobroma cacao seed (TC) extracts against Pb-induced cerebellar toxicity. Twenty-four rats, divided into four equal groups, received as follows: 1 ml H 2 O/day; 100 mg.kg -1 body weight (BW)/day of lead acetate (Pb) only; 500 mg.kg -1 BW/day of ZO and 100 mg.kg -1 BW/day of Pb; and 500 mg.kg -1 BW/day of TC and 100 mg.kg -1 BW/day of Pb, orally for twenty-eight days. Afterwards, neurobehavioural tests were conducted and the harvested cerebellums were used for antioxidant enzymes activity, Pb and lipid peroxidation concentrations as well as histological evaluations, following the sacrifice of experimental rats. Findings revealed significant neurobehavioural and antioxidant enzymes impairment, elevated levels of cerebellar Pb and lipid peroxidation, and microstructure alterations in the cerebellum of Pb-exposed rats. Although pretreatment with ZO and TC significantly attenuated these Pb-induced effects, ZO was more potent in its neuroprotective activity than TC. Taken together, ZO and TC can be further developed as novel neuroprotective agents against Pb toxicity.