Evaluation of Antistress and Neuroprotective Potential of Ichnocarpus frutescens (L.) W. T. Aiton Root Extract in Drosophila melanogaster

Abstract

Oxidative stress contributes to cellular dysfunction and is associated with chronic and neurodegenerative disorders, prompting interest in plant-derived antioxidant agents. This study evaluated the antistress and neuroprotective potential of the ethyl acetate (EA) root extract of Ichnocarpus frutescens using Drosophila melanogaster. HPLC profiling identified rutin, kaempferol, lupeol, colchicine and quercetin, with rutin and kaempferol as the predominant detected constituents. Developmental safety was assessed through survivorship and progression from larval to pupal stages across extract concentrations of 1.0–2.5 mg mL⁻¹. No larval mortality was recorded during the observation period. Behavioural effects were assessed using larval crawling and adult climbing assays. The 2.0 mg mL⁻¹ treatment showed the highest locomotor performance, including a crawling distance of 4.3 ± 0.41 cm at 15 min. Molecular analysis of stress-related genes AChE and GstD1 and antioxidant genes Cu/Zn-SOD and Mn-SOD showed reduced expression in extract-treated flies relative to controls. Taken together, the findings indicate that the EA root extract of I. frutescens was associated with preserved developmental viability, improved locomotor performance and reduced expression of selected stress- and antioxidant-related genes under the conditions of this study. The observed effects are consistent with the antioxidant phytochemical profile of the extract and support further evaluation of its antistress and neuroprotective potential.