In spite of the fact that Strawberry leaves extract (SLE) has an antioxidant and anti-inflammatory capacity, little is known about its effect on brain injury relieve. A rat model of lead poisoning by a daily intraperitoneal injection (i.p.) of lead acetate for 90 days was performed. Thus, this study was designed to investigate whether daily intraperitoneal injection (i.p.) of 200mg/kg SLE for two weeks can inhibit lead-induced brain injury, and whether this effect could ameliorate lead-associated biochemical and pathological changes. The obtained data showed that the injection of SLE caused recover of insulin and neurotransmitters e.g. noradrenalin, dopamine and 5-hydroxytryptoamin and reduced the contents of amyloid beta (Aβ-40), tau protein, calmodulin, calcium adenosine 5′-triphosphatase (Ca++ATPase) and magnesium adenosine 5′-triphosphatase (Mg++ATPase). Furthermore, the histopathological examinations revealed that the injection of SLE could recover the pyknosis and degeneration in the cerebral cortex, focal eosinophilic plagues in the striatum and the vacuolization as well as blood vessels congestion in the matrix. Therefore, it may be concluded that, Strawberry leaves extract can be considered a very promising phytochemical for treating the neurotoxicity due to lead toxicity.

Keywords : Strawberry leaves extract, lead poisoning, amyloid beta, tau protein, calmodulin.