Anticholinesterase activity and antioxidant effect of vitamin E in aluminium chloride induced toxicity in <i>Drosophila melanogaster</i>

Abstract

Background: Aluminium chloride (AlCl3) toxicity has been reported to be linked with impaired locomotion, memory, learning, oxidative stress and impairment of cholinergic function which are synonymous with features seen in Alzehmiers disease (AD). Vitamin E has been put forward as a possible therapeutic intervention for AD. However, there are controversies as to whether Vitamin E is beneficial in the management of AD. Anticholinesterase activity and antioxidant potential of vitamin E was evaluated in aluminium chloride induced toxicity in Drosophila Melanogaster.
Methods: A 2.5mg dose of Vitamin E was considered the appropriate standard for this study after exposure of flies to varying doses of vitamin E in a 15-day survival study. Group I served as control while group II were treated with 40mM aluminium chloride (AlCl3) via their diet. Group III were treated with 2.5mg of Vitamin E via their diet and Group IV were co-administered with 40 mM AlCl3 and 2.5mg of Vitamin E via their diet. The flies were maintained on these treatments at room temperature for seven (7) days. Negative geotaxis was carried out to assess for locomotor performance (climbing activity). The impact of 40 mM AlCl3 and/0r 2.5mg of Vitamin E on the survival rate of flies was also evaluated by carrying out a 15-day survival study At the end of the experimental period, the flies were homogenized and the supernatants were used to assay for, malonaldehyde (MDA) concentration, acetylcholinesterase (AChE), superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and glutathione S-transferase (GST) activities.
Results: AlCl3 significantly reduced (P<0.05) the survival rate, decreased the climbing activity of flies, elevated MDA concentration and AChE activities of flies. SOD, CAT and GST activities were also significantly reduced (P<0.05) in AlCl3 treated flies. In the co treatment protocol, vitamin E was able to significantly improve (P<0.05) the survival rate, improved their climbing activity and ameliorated AlCl3 increase in AChE activity and MDA concentration in these flies. In addition, vitamin E significantly attenuated (P<0.05) AlCl3 induced decrease in SOD, CAT and GST activities.
Conclusion: This study has shown that vitamin E has both antioxidant and anti-cholinesterase activities and could be of therapeutic benefits against AlCl3 induced toxicity and associated diseases like Alzheimer’s disease.