Jobelyn ®, a Sorghum-Based Nutritional Supplement Attenuates Unpredictable Chronic Mild Stress-Induced Memory Deficits in Mice

Abstract

The ability of an organism to adapt to aversive stressful situations or life challenging circums-tances is very crucial to its state of health and survival. However, breakdown in adaptation due to persistent uncontrollable stress, leads to impairment of bodily functions and onset of a variety of pathological disorders especially memory decline. This study was designed to evaluate the effect of Jobelyn ® (JB), a potent antioxidant sorghum-based food supplement on unpredictable chronic mild stress (UCMS)-induced memory impairment in mice. Male Swiss mice were given JB (5 -50 mg/kg, p.o) 30 min prior to exposure to UCMS for 14 consecutive days before testing for memory. Thereafter, the serum corticosterone level was estimated by using ELISA kits. The levels of malon-dialdehyde (MDA) and glutathione (GSH) as well as acetylcholinesterase activity were estimated in the brain homogenate using spectrophotometer. Histology of the brain tissues and estimation of the populations of viable neurons in the hippocampal region were done after staining with hema-toxyline and eosin. Our results showed that JB reversed memory impairment and suppressed cor-ticosterone concentrations induced by UCMS. Moreover, JB reduced oxidative stress in the brain of UCMS-mice as shown by decreased MDA levels and elevated GSH concentrations. It also decreased * Corresponding author. S. Umukoro et al. 587 brain acetylcholinesterase activity when compared with chronic stress group (p < 0.05). Further-more, JB (5 -10 mg/kg, p.o) offered significant protection against UCMS-induced degeneration and death of neuronal cells of the cornu ammonis 3 (CA3) of the hippocampal region of the brain indi-cating neuroprotection. Taken together, these findings suggest that JB attenuates memory deficits induced by UCMS in mice and may be useful therapeutically for stress-related cognitive dysfunc-tions. The reduction in the levels of serum corticosterone, antioxidation, neuroprotection and in-hibition of cholinesterase enzyme might be contributing significantly to the positive effect of JB on memory in mice exposed to unpredictable chronic mild stress.