Objectives: Alpha-amyrin (AA) is a pentacyclic triterpene that exhibits erratic gastrointestinal absorption and poor blood-brain barrier permeability. The study aims to isolate AA from the stem bark of Ficus benghalensis L. (Fb) (Moraceae), purify it, and formulate a nanoemulsion (NE) that may improve its bioavailability, characterization, and intranasal (IN) administration to Swiss albino mice to check its neurobehavioral effects in aluminum-induced neurotoxicity.
Materials and methods: AA was isolated from the stem bark of Fb by Soxhlet extraction, purified by analytical methods, prepared chitosan-decorated NE of the same, and characterized. It was then administered through IN route to aluminum-treated Swiss albino mice for 28 days to check its effect on neurobehavioral parameters.
Results: IN delivery of chitosan-decorated AA, NE resulted in significant improvement in neurobehavioral parameters. It reduced the fall-off period in the rotarod test and the escape latency in the Morris water maze test, and animals showed improved learning and spatial memory in the elevated plus maze. The transfer latency of animals improved with treatment compared with the aluminum-induced groups, indicative of the neuroprotective role of the drug.
Conclusion: IN administration of AA, NE isolated from the stem bark of Fb improved neurobehavioral parameters in aluminum-induced neurotoxicity in Swiss albino mice.
Keywords: Aluminium; alpha amyrin; intranasal; nanoemulsion; neurobehavioral.