Modulatory Effect of Decalepis hamiltonii on EthanolInduced Neurotoxicity in Drosophila melanogaster

Introduction: T Drosophila melanogaster is a suitable in vivo model organism to study the neurotoxic effects of ethanol. In the present study, the behavioral responses, levels of oxidative markers, and activity of antioxidant enzymes were investigated in ethanolexposed Drosophila flies. Methods: Adult flies were exposed to absolute ethanol using ethanol exposure chamber. Then, their resistance against ethanol vapor was measured by monitoring their locomotion. Biochemical assays were applied to quantify antioxidant enzymes activity in the brains of ethanol exposed flies. Results: The results showed that acute ethanol exposure led to the hyperactivity of flies. If alcohol exposure was prolonged, then sedation could occur in the experimental flies. The levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and lipid peroxidation (LPO) as cellular markers of oxidative stress considerably increased in ethanolexposed flies while glutathione (GSH) level declined. Higher activities of catalase (CAT) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) were observed in the ethanolexposed flies. Ethanol neurotoxicity became more evident when a remarkable decrease in acetylcholine esterase (AChE) activity was seen in the ethanolexposed flies. Treatment with Decalepis hamiltonii aqueous extract increased the time of ST50 and decreased the RC50 values of ethanolexposed flies. Moreover, we demonstrated that D. hamiltonii pretreatment diminished ROS and LPO levels in the ethanolexposed flies. D. hamiltonii treatment resulted in augmentation of GSH level and activity of CAT and SOD enzymes. Conclusion: This is the first report on the protective effects of D. hamiltonii natural antioxidants in D. melanogaster on oxidative stress induced by ethanol.