title: Neuroprotection of luteolin against methylmercury-induced toxicity in lobster cockroach Nauphoeta cinerea.
abstract: Luteolin (3', 4', 5, 7-tetrahydroxyflavone) is a polyphenolic compound found in foods of plant origin and has been reported to possess antioxidant and neuroprotective properties. However, there is dearth of information on the beneficial effects of luteolin on methylmercury (MeHg), a long-established neurotoxic compound in animals and humans. This study evaluated the effect of luteolin on MeHg-induced behavioral and biochemical deficits, using lobster cockroach Nauphoeta cinerea as an alternative and complementary animal model. The insects were exposed for 35 consecutive days to either MeHg alone (0.05 mg/g feed) or in combination with luteolin at 0.25, 0.5 and 1.0 mg/g feed. Locomotor behavior was assessed using video-tracking software during a 10-min trial in a novel arena and subsequently, biochemical analyses were carried out using the cockroaches' heads. Luteolin supplementation dose-dependently reversed the MeHg-induced locomotor deficits and enhanced the exploratory profiles of MeHg-exposed cockroaches as confirmed by track and occupancy plot analyses. Luteolin reversed the MeHg-induced acetylcholinesterase activity inhibition, decreased dichlorofluorescein oxidation and lipid peroxidation levels, but increased total thiol level and catalase and glutathione S-transferase activities in the treated cockroaches. In conclusion, luteolin prevented oxidative stress indices and neurobehavioral deficits in a Nauphoeta cinerea model of MeHg toxicity.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Bioquímica e Biologia Molecular, CCNE, Universidade Federal de Santa Maria, 97105-900 Santa Maria, RS, Brazil; Departamento de Bioquímica, Instituto de Ciências Básicas da Saúde, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Rua Ramiro Barcelos 2600-Anexo, 90035-003 Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil; Drug Metabolism and Toxicology Research Laboratories, Department of Biochemistry, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Isaac A
authors.initials: IA
authors.lastname: Adedara
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Bioquímica e Biologia Molecular, CCNE, Universidade Federal de Santa Maria, 97105-900 Santa Maria, RS, Brazil.
authors.forename: Denis B
authors.initials: DB
authors.lastname: Rosemberg
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Bioquímica, Instituto de Ciências Básicas da Saúde, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Rua Ramiro Barcelos 2600-Anexo, 90035-003 Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.
authors.forename: Diogo O
authors.initials: DO
authors.lastname: Souza
authors.affiliation: Drug Metabolism and Toxicology Research Laboratories, Department of Biochemistry, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Ebenezer O
authors.initials: EO
authors.lastname: Farombi
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Pharmacology; Albert Einstein College of Medicine Forchheimer 209; 1300 Morris Park Avenue, Bronx, NY 10461, U.S.A.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Aschner
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Bioquímica e Biologia Molecular, CCNE, Universidade Federal de Santa Maria, 97105-900 Santa Maria, RS, Brazil. Electronic address: jbtrocha@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Joao B T
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Rocha
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002374:Catalase; D003058:Cockroaches; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000633:toxicity*; D005982:Glutathione Transferase; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation / Q000187:drug effects; D047311:Luteolin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008767:Methylmercury Compounds / Q000633:toxicity*; D000066829:Neuroprotection; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction
chemical_list: D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D008767:Methylmercury Compounds; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; D002374:Catalase; D005982:Glutathione Transferase; D047311:Luteolin
keywords: Alternative model; Luteolin; Methylmercury; Nauphoeta cinerea; Neurotoxicity