Alteration in brain
glucose metabolism due to
glucose uptake reduction has been described in the onset of certain
neurodegenerative disorders. This study determined Harpephyllum caffrum fruit's potential ability to improve
glucose uptake and its modulatory effects on intrinsic
antioxidant, glucogenic,
cholinergic, and
nucleotide-hydrolyzing
enzyme activities in isolated rat brain. Consequently, the bioactive compounds of the fruits were identified with LC-MS. The fruit significantly improved brain
glucose uptake following coincubation with
glucose and brain tissue. The fruit extract also elevated GSH level, SOD,
catalase,
glycogen phosphorylase, and ENTPDase activities while simultaneously suppressing NO and
malonaldehyde levels and
fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase,
ATPase,
acetylcholinesterase and
butyrylcholinesterase activities. LC-MS analysis revealed
S-methylcysteine sulfoxide,
dihydroquercetin, 3,4-dimethyl-2,5-bis(3,4,5-trimethoxyphenyl)
tetrahydrofuran (
MTHF),
nobiletin,
puerarin,
quercetin 3-rutinoside, 8-D-glucosyl-4',5,7-trihydroxyflavone,
asperulosidic acid, 1,2,4,6-tetragalloylglucose, and
phellamurin. This study suggests the
neuroprotective effects of H. caffrum fruit due to its ability to enhance
glucose uptake, attenuate
glucose-induced oxidative stress while modulating glucogenic,
cholinergic, and
nucleotide-hydrolyzing
enzyme activities in normal brain tissues. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: Available scientific evidence describes oxidative stress as one of the physiological processes contributing to aging-associated neurodegeneration in humans. In this regard, commonly consumed natural products from plants have attracted much interest due to their ability to mitigate redox imbalance-related pathologies that affect various organs in the body such as the brain. Harpephyllum caffrum or bush mango is an evergreen plant native to the South African vegetation. The fruit from the plant is consumed locally as food or specifically for improving the nutritional quality of meals as deserts or condiments. While previous findings described the high
antioxidant properties of the fruits, this study reported possible mechanisms via which the plant may exhibit ameliorative effects against oxidative stress-related
neurological disorders in the brain. Hence, findings from the current work present another justification for the significance of fruits as a safer nutraceutical alternative for
therapy in neurological disease management.