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Ashwagandha Diminishes Hippocampal Apoptosis Induced by Microwave Radiation by Acetylcholinesterase Dependent Neuro-Inflammatory Pathway in Male Coturnix coturnix Japonica

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Abstract

Microwave radiation (MWR) has been linked to neurodegeneration by inducing oxidative stress in the hippocampus of brain responsible for learning and memory. Ashwagandha (ASW), a medicinal plant is known to prevent neurodegeneration and promote neuronal health. This study investigated the effects of MWR and ASW on oxidative stress and cholinergic imbalance in the hippocampus of adult male Japanese quail. One control group received no treatment, the second group quails were exposed to MWR at 2 h/day for 30 days, third was administered with ASW root extract orally 100 mg/day/kg body weight and the fourth was exposed to MWR and also treated with ASW. The results showed that MWR increased serum corticosterone levels, disrupted cholinergic balance and induced neuro-inflammation. This neuro-inflammation further led to oxidative stress, as evidenced by decreased activity of antioxidant enzymes SOD, CAT and GSH. MWR also caused a significant decline in the nissil substances in the hippocampus region of brain indicating neurodegeneration through oxidative stress mediated hippocampal apoptosis. ASW, on the other hand, was able to effectively enhance the cholinergic balance and subsequently lower inflammation in hippocampus neurons. This suggests that ASW can protect against the neurodegenerative effects of MWR. ASW also reduced excessive ROS production by increasing the activity of ROS-scavenging enzymes. Additionally, ASW prevented neurodegeneration through decreased expression of caspase-3 and caspase-7 in hippocampus, thus promoting neuronal health. In conclusion, this study showed that MWR induces apoptosis and oxidative stress in the brain, while ASW reduces excessive ROS production, prevents neurodegeneration and promotes neuronal health.

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Data Availability

The datasets acquired and/or analyzed during the current study are not publicly available but are available on the reasonable request to corresponding author.

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Funding

The authors would like to express their gratitude to Dr. Harisingh Gour Central University, Sagar (M.P.), India, and UGC, India, for supporting Vaibhav Gupta financially through a non-NET research fellowship.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Avian Reproductive and Endocrinology Laboratory, Department of Zoology, School of Biological Sciences, Dr. Harisingh Gour Central University, Sagar, MP, 470003, India

    Vaibhav Gupta

  2. Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, University of Allahabad, Prayagraj, UP, 211002, India

    Rashmi Srivastava

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  1. Vaibhav Gupta
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VG: Writing- original draft, methodology, figures and formal analysis. RS: Conceptualization, visualization, review, editing and supervision.

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Correspondence to Rashmi Srivastava.

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All the authors indicate no financial, legal or professional conflict of interest.

Ethical Approval

For the goal of maintaining control and oversight of experimental animals, all experimental procedures for this study were carried out in accordance with the regulations and standards of the animal ethics committee (CPCSEA). Additionally, Institutional Animal Ethics Committee (IAEC) of Dr. Harisingh Gour Vishwavidyalaya Sagar (M.P.) also authorized the complete experimental design, as evidenced by certificate No. 379/CPCSEA/IAEC-2021/018.

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Gupta, V., Srivastava, R. Ashwagandha Diminishes Hippocampal Apoptosis Induced by Microwave Radiation by Acetylcholinesterase Dependent Neuro-Inflammatory Pathway in Male Coturnix coturnix Japonica. Neurochem Res (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11064-024-04127-7

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