Phyllanthus muellarianus (Kuntze) Exell. (Euphorbiacea) leaves are widely used in the treatment of neurological disorders in Nigeria. We investigated the protective effect of aqueous leaf extract of Phyllanthus muellarianus on ciprofloxacin neurotoxicity in male rats. Control rats (Group A) received distilled water, Groups C-E According to the Animal grouping and treatment section, Group B did not receive P. muellarianus> rats were administered 100, 200, and 400 mg/kg body weight P. muellarianus, respectively, and Group F rats received 200 mg/kg body weight valproate orally for 7 days. In addition, groups B-F rats were orally administered ciprofloxacin for 7 days. Motor coordination and motor function were assessed using narrow beam and landing foot splay distance. The levels of neurotransmitter and oxidative stress biomarkers were also determined. Aqueous leaf extract of P. muellarianus significantly attenuated ciprofloxacin-mediated increases in narrow beam, landing foot splay distance, and gait scores. Ciprofloxacin-mediated depletion of acetylcholine and dopamine in the brains of rats was significantly annulled by P. muellarianus. Furthermore, the extract significantly reversed ciprofloxacin-mediated increases in acetylcholinesterase, monoamine oxidase A, and monoamine oxidase B by 73.13%, 71.52%, and 86.54%, respectively. The altered biomarkers of oxidative stress were significantly reversed by P. muellarianus. Overall, the results of this study show that P. muellarianus reversed ciprofloxacin-induced neurotoxicity by restoring ciprofloxacin-mediated alterations in acetylcholine, dopamine, acetylcholinesterase, monoaminergic enzymes, and oxidative stress biomarkers in the brains of rats.
Keywords: antioxidants; cholinesterase; ciprofloxacin; lipid peroxidation; monoaminergic enzyme.