Background

The therapeutic potential of medicinal plants in neurological health has gained attention. Acalypha wilkesiana, or Red Acalypha, has traditionally been used for anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and wound-healing properties. The hippocampus, a key brain region for memory, learning, and spatial navigation, is vulnerable to damage, making it a focus for studying natural compounds’ effects on cognitive health. Damage to the hippocampus can impair cognitive abilities, emphasizing the need for interventions to prevent neurodegeneration.

Method

This study assessed Acalypha’s effects on hippocampal health in rats. Four groups of seven rats each were used. The control group received distilled water, while the other groups were given Acalypha extracts at doses of 100 mg/kg, 200 mg/kg, or 400 mg/kg orally for 28 days after a 14-day acclimatization. The study measured body weight, spatial memory using the Morris water maze, oxidative stress markers (superoxide dismutase [SOD], glutathione [GSH], catalase [CAT], malondialdehyde [MDA]), and hippocampal histology.

Results

Relative to the control, Acalypha treatment significantly (p < 0.05) improved multiple parameters, including mitigating weight loss, enhancing spatial memory performance in the Morris water maze test, and reducing oxidative stress markers such as SOD, GSH, CAT, and MDA in a dose-dependent manner. Additionally, it provided neuroprotection to the hippocampus, as evidenced by a reduction in vacuolation compared to the control group.

Conclusions

Acalypha demonstrated notable neuroprotective effects, improving memory and reducing oxidative stress. This suggests its potential as a therapeutic agent for preserving hippocampal health and enhancing cognitive function, particularly against neurodegenerative conditions.