Quercetin and Gongronema Latifolium Ameliorated IL-1β and TNF-Α Mediated Neurobehavioural Deficits and Neuroinflammation Following Lead Administration in Male Wistar Rats

Abstract

Lead neurotoxicity remains a critical public health concern, causing oxidative stress, neuroinflammation, and cognitive deficits in exposed populations. This study investigated the comparative neuroprotective effects of quercetin and Gongronema latifolium in male Wistar rats exposed to lead acetate (50 mg/kg/day) for 28 days. Thirty adult male rats were randomly assigned to six groups, including control, lead-only, quercetin-treated (500 mg/kg), and Gongronema-treated groups at 250, 500, and 1000 mg/kg. Neuroinflammatory markers (TNF-α and IL-1β) were quantified via ELISA, while neurobehavioral performance was assessed using the Y-maze test, focusing on total arm entries as a measure of exploratory behaviour. Lead exposure significantly increased TNF-α and IL-1β compared with controls (p<0.05), confirming pronounced neuroinflammation. These markers were significantly reduced to near-control levels by high-dose Gongronema and quercetin (1000 mg/kg and 500 mg/kg, respectively; p < 0.05), thereby demonstrating the high potency of these compounds as anti-inflammatory agents. In the Y-maze, total arm entries differed significantly between groups (F=4.536; p=0.015), with high-dose Gongronema and quercetin improving exploratory behaviour. The results of the study reveal that high-dose Gongronema latifolium and quercetin can effectively alleviate neuroinflammatory complications and partially restore hippocampus-dependent cognitive function in lead-exposed subjects. The therapeutic potential of these natural compounds as effective, cost-free interventions for environmental neurotoxicity is thus established.