Speakers

Biography

Prof Anyanwu Godson Emeka is a passionate and accomplished Professor of Anatomy with over two decades of experience and an M.Sc. and Ph.D. in Clinical Anatomy. He is highly engaging, team-oriented, and innovative in his approach to learning, specifically active, student-centered learning approaches, where students are encouraged to think critically, ask questions, and actively participate in their education. His distinctive and diverse expertise covers various areas of Anatomy, such as Gross anatomy, Neuroanatomy, Embryology, and Histology. He has proficiently developed and enhanced his skills in the teaching of Anatomy using cadavers, He is Very effective in developing specific modules targeted to emphasize specific needs like clinical application, fostering integration across curriculum etc. 

Abstract

Background: environmental neurotoxins can cause neuronal cell damage marked by oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction, and inflammation in the hippocampus, resulting in cognitive impairment and dementia. Certain medicinal plants and supplements, such as ginger, possess therapeutic properties. Zingerone, a naturally occurring alkaloid derived from ginger, exhibits antioxidant and protective effects.

Objective: This study is designed to assess zingerone's neuroprotective potential against cadmium-induced neurotoxicity and cognitive impairment using Y-maze, acetylcholinesterase (AchE), and histological and immunohistochemical examination of the hippocampus.

Methodology: Twenty 25 male Wistar rats were randomly divided into five groups (n=5). Group I control group), Group II (Dementia model group received 5mg/kg of cadmium for 14 days), Group III (zingerone only group, received 50mg/kg of zingerone), Group IV (50mg/kg of Zingerone+5mg/kg of cadmium), Group V (100mg/kg of zingerone +5mg/kg of cadmium). Behavioral test to assess cognition and memory was carried out using the y-maze model, homogenized hippocampus tissues were used to evaluate Ache level, and fixed hippocampus were processed for the histological and immunohistochemical procedures. ANOVA was used to analyze the behavioral test data, with a post hoc test and significance set at p<0.05.

Result: Histological analysis of the hippocampus revealed that cadmium induced degenerative abnormalities, elevated acetylcholinesterase (AchE), and heightened microglial activity. Zingerone administration resulted in a noticeable decrease in acetylcholinesterase (AchE), enhanced histoarchitecture of the CA 1 region of the hippocampus, increased spontaneous alternation, and a significant reduction in microglial expressivity.

Conclusion: Zingerone has strong neuroprotective potential against neurotoxicity and cognitive decline triggered by cadmium. These findings highlight the potential benefits of zingerone as a natural remedy for reducing neurotoxic damage and preserving cognitive ability.