title: Azadirachta indica ethanolic extract protects neurons from apoptosis and mitigates brain swelling in experimental cerebral malaria.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Cerebral malaria is a rapidly developing encephalopathy caused by the apicomplexan parasite Plasmodium falciparum. Drugs currently in use are associated with poor outcome in an increasing number of cases and new drugs are urgently needed. The potential of the medicinal plant Azadirachta indica (Neem) for the treatment of experimental cerebral malaria was evaluated in mice.
  
  
  METHODS
  Experimental cerebral malaria was induced in mice by infection with Plasmodium berghei ANKA. Infected mice were administered with Azadirachta indica ethanolic extract at doses of 300, 500, or 1000 mg/kg intraperitoneally (i.p.) in experimental groups, or with the anti-malarial drugs chloroquine (12 mg/kg, i.p.) or artemether (1.6 mg/kg, i.p.), in the positive control groups. Treatment was initiated at the onset of signs of brain involvement and pursued for five days on a daily basis. Mice brains were dissected out and processed for the study of the effects of the extract on pyramidal cells' fate and on markers of neuroinflammation and apoptosis, in the medial temporal lobe.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Azadirachta indica ethanolic extract mitigated neuroinflammation, decreased the severity of brain oedema, and protected pyramidal neurons from apoptosis, particularly at the highest dose used, comparable to chloroquine and artemether.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The present findings suggest that Azadirachta indica ethanolic extract has protective effects on neuronal populations in the inflamed central nervous system, and justify at least in part its use in African and Asian folk medicine and practices.
authors.affiliation: Department of Basic Health Sciences, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Qassim University, Buraydah 51452, Saudi Arabia. farahnamohammed@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Selma
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bedri
authors.forename: Eltahir A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Khalil
authors.forename: Sami A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Khalid
authors.forename: Mohammad A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Alzohairy
authors.forename: Abdlmarouf
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mohieldein
authors.forename: Yousef H
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Aldebasi
authors.forename: Paul Faustin
authors.initials: PF
authors.lastname: Seke Etet
authors.forename: Mohammed
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Farahna
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000962:Antimalarials / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology; D017209:Apoptosis; D031601:Azadirachta / Q000737:chemistry*; D001921:Brain / Q000473:pathology; D001929:Brain Edema / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D006651:Histocytochemistry; D007274:Injections, Intraperitoneal; D016779:Malaria, Cerebral / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000469:parasitology / Q000473:pathology; D016778:Malaria, Falciparum; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D009474:Neurons / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology; D010962:Plasmodium berghei / Q000254:growth & development; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000962:Antimalarials; D010936:Plant Extracts