In vitro Inhibitory Effects of Cyperus esculentus L. (Tiger Nut) Tubers on some Enzymes Associated with Neurodegeneration and Iron- Induced Lipid Peroxidation in Rats’ Brain Tissue Homogenate

This study investigated the inhibitory effect of Cyperus esculentus L. (raw and processed) tubers on Iron (Fe2+) induced lipid peroxidation and key enzymes linked with neurodegeneration in vitro. Ten grams of tiger nut tubers was weighed and added to 100 mL of distilled water (1:10 w/v), left for 24 h, filtered, centrifuged to obtain a clear supernatant and lyophilized. Activities of acetyl cholinesterase (AChE), butyryl cholinesterase (BChE), Fe2+-induced lipid peroxidation as well as antioxidants status as indicated by 2,2-azino-bis (3-ethylbenthiazoline-6-sulphonic acid radical scavenging ability and Fe chelation were evaluated. Raw tiger nut extracts inhibited activities of AChE and BChE in the brain tissue of rats (0 – 11.54 mg /mL) with EC50 = 3.599 mg /mL and 2.71 ± 0.01 mg /mL respectively, and increased antioxidant activity when compared with the processed tuber. Inhibition on these enzymes as well as prevention of Fe2+ induced lipid peroxidation may be the possible mechanism of action by which tiger nut prevents neurodegeneration.