J.Neurol.Sci.[Turk] 57 Journal of Neurological Sciences [Turkish] 29:(1)# 30; 057-064, 2012 http://www.jns.dergisi.org/text.php3?id=497 Research Article The Protective Effects of Aqueous Extract of Garcinia Kola (Linn) On The Hippocampus and Cerebellum of Malnourished Mice Sunday A. AJAYI 1 , Gideon B. OJO 2 , Polycarp U. NWOHA 3 , David A. OFUSORI 3 , Oladele A AYOKA 4 , Benedict A. FALANA 1 , Adekilekun A TIJANI 1 1 Department of Anatomy, College of Health Sciences, Osun State University, Osogbo Osun State 2 Department of Anatomy, College of Health Sciences, Bowen University, Iwo, Osun State 3 Department of Anatomy & Cell Biology, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun State 4 Department of Physiological Sciences, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun State Summary The present study was undertaken to assess the neuroprotective effects of aqueous extract of Garcinia kola on neurotoxin administered malnourished mice. The study was carried out using thirty-two adult Malnourished mice which were randomly assigned into four groups (n=8): A, B, C, and D. Group A served as control, while the other groups served as the experimental groups. Animals in group A were fed malnourished diet ad libitum and water given liberally. Animals in group B were administered with 3- Nitropropionic acid (3-NP) (neurotoxin) only (20 mg/kg body weight), group C were given only Garcinia kola extracts, and group D were pre-treated with Garcinia kola extracts for seven days (200mg/kg) prior to administration of neurotoxin (20 mg/kg body weight). After three days of neurotoxins administration in the relevant groups, the brains were excised and fixed in formal calcium for histological processing. The study showed that hippocampal and cerebellar neurons of animals in group B exhibited some cellular degeneration and blood vessel blockage, which were not seen in groups A, C and D. Cresyl violet staining was least intense in group B than in groups A, C and D. Despite the fact that animals in group D has equal administration of 3-Nitropropionic acid concentration, there were no traces of neural degeneration as it was evidenced in group B. It was concluded that Garcinia kola has protective effects on the neurons of the hippocampus and cerebellum of malnourished mice. Key words: Garcinia kola, 3-Nitropropionic acid, Neurons, Hippocampus, Malnourished mice, Cerebellum Garcinia Kola (Linn) Sıvı Özsuyunun Kötü Beslenen Farelerin Serebellum ve Hipokampüsüne Koruyucu Etkileri Özet Bu çalışma Garcinia Kola sıvı özsuyunun nörotoksin uygulanan kötü beslenen fareler üzerinde nörolojik koruyucu etkilerinin araştırılması üzerine kurgulandı. Bu çalışma 8’er deneğin (n=8) bulunduğu A, B, C ve D olarak rastgele belirlenen 4 gruba ayrılan 32 kötü beslenen erişkin fare üzerinde gerçekleştirildi. A grubu kontrol grubu olarak alınırken diğer gruplar deney grupları olarak belirlendi. A grubundaki deney hayvanlarına kötü beslenme diyeti ad libitum ve su serbest olarak verildi. B grubundaki hayvanlar sadece 3- Nitropropionik asid (3-NP) (nörotoksin) (20mg/kg vücut ağırlığı) alırken, C grubundakiler sadece Garcinia kola özütü, D grubundakiler ise yedi gün süresince Garcinia kola özütü