LC-qTOF-MS/MS phytochemical profiling of Tabebuia impetiginosa (Mart. Ex DC.) Standl. leaf and assessment of its neuroprotective potential in rats

J Ethnopharmacol. 2024 Sep 15:331:118292. doi: 10.1016/j.jep.2024.118292. Epub 2024 May 3.

Abstract

Ethnopharmacological relevance: Tabebuia impetiginosa (Bignoniaceae) was traditionally used for memory enhancement and central nervous system (CNS) stimulation.

Aim of the study: This study aims to create a metabolic profile of the ethyl acetate fraction of T. impetiginosa (TEF) and investigate for the first time its neuroprotective potential on cyclophosphamide (CP)-induced chemobrain, validating its traditional use.

Materials and methods: Metabolite profiling of TEF was performed using Liquid Chromatography coupled with Quadrupole Time of Flight-Mass/Mass Spectrometry (LC-qTOF-MS/MS). For the in vivo study, CP (200 mg/kg, i.p.) was administered to induce cognitive impairment in rats; TEF (30 mg/kg, p.o.) was administered throughout the 14 days of the experiment to assess its role in mitigating CP-induced neuronal deficits. Behavioral tests including locomotor, Y-maze, and passive avoidance tests were conducted. Additionally, biochemical markers such as reduced glutathione (GSH), malondialdehyde (MDA), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), and caspase-3 immunoexpression were assessed in the hippocampus area.

Results: Forty-four phytoconstituents were tentatively identified in TEF, mainly iridoids and organic acids. TEF showed significant memory enhancement as evidenced by the increase in step-through latency in the passive avoidance test by 1.5 folds and the increase in sequence alternation percentage (SAP) in the Y-maze test by 67.3%, as compared to CP-group. Moreover, it showed pronounced antioxidant and anti-inflammatory potentials evidenced by the significant elevation in reduced glutathione (GSH) levels by 80% and a pronounced decline in MDA and TNF-α levels by 24% and 45%, respectively relative to the CP group. TEF treatment restored normal hippocampal histological features and attenuated apoptotic caspase-3 expression by 70% compared to the CP group.

Conclusions: TEF can act as a promising natural scaffold in managing the chemobrain induced by CP in cancer patients.

Keywords: Acetylcholinesterase; Anti-inflammatory; Antioxidant; Chemobrain; LC-qTOF-MS/MS; Tabebuia impetiginosa.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Behavior, Animal / drug effects
  • Chromatography, Liquid / methods
  • Cyclophosphamide / toxicity
  • Glutathione / metabolism
  • Hippocampus / drug effects
  • Hippocampus / metabolism
  • Male
  • Maze Learning / drug effects
  • Neuroprotective Agents* / pharmacology
  • Oxidative Stress / drug effects
  • Phytochemicals / analysis
  • Phytochemicals / pharmacology
  • Plant Extracts* / chemistry
  • Plant Extracts* / pharmacology
  • Plant Leaves* / chemistry
  • Rats
  • Rats, Wistar
  • Tandem Mass Spectrometry* / methods

Substances

  • Neuroprotective Agents
  • Plant Extracts
  • Phytochemicals
  • Cyclophosphamide
  • Glutathione