Neurotoxic Effect of Cassava Cyanide on the Motor Activity and Cytoarchitecture of the Cerebellar Cortex of Albino Rats
Article Sidebar
Page Numbers:
1-12
Digital Object Identifier:
10.58578/ajbmbr.v3i1.8299
Viewed: 343 times
Downloaded: 87 times
LYAS Publisher cordially invites qualified professionals to serve as Editors or Reviewers. Your expertise will make an important contribution to maintaining and strengthening the academic quality of our publications. Interested applicants are kindly requested to complete the application form at the following link: Editors & Reviewers
Please feel free to contact us if you need any further information about the submission process or if you have any additional questions.
Authors:
Isaac John Umaru1, Tyem Lawal Danjuma2, Katchim Evelyn Shadrach3, Julius Ishaya Salman4, Jibaniya Grace Mchibuma5, Kerenhappuch Isaac Umaru6 
Copyright :
Authors retain copyright and grant the journal right of first publication.
Main Article Content
Abstract
Cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz), a widely consumed staple in tropical regions, contains cyanogenic glycosides that release hydrogen cyanide (HCN) upon hydrolysis. Chronic exposure to cassava-derived cyanide has been implicated in neurodegenerative disorders, particularly affecting motor coordination and cerebellar function. This study investigates the neurotoxic effects of cassava cyanide on motor activity and cerebellar cytoarchitecture in albino Wistar rats. Thirty adult male rats were divided into three groups: control, low-dose cyanide (10 mg/kg), and high-dose cyanide (20 mg/kg), administered orally for 15 days. Motor performance was assessed using rotarod and open field tests, while cerebellar tissues were examined histologically using hematoxylin and eosin staining. Results revealed a dose-dependent decline in motor coordination and locomotor activity, with significant reductions in rotarod latency and open field distance in cyanide-treated groups compared to controls (p < 0.05). Histological analysis showed progressive Purkinje cell degeneration, vacuolation, and disrupted laminar architecture in the cerebellar cortex, particularly in the high-dose group. These findings suggest that cassava cyanide exerts neurotoxic effects on cerebellar neurons, impairing motor function through structural damage. The study underscores the importance of safe cassava processing and dietary interventions to mitigate cyanide-induced neurotoxicity in vulnerable populations.
Citation Metrics:
Downloads
Article Details
Authors retain copyright and grant the journal right of first publication with the work simultaneously licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License that allows others to share the work with an acknowledgement of the work's authorship and initial publication in this journal.
References
Adamolekun, B. (2011). Neurological disorders associated with cassava diet: A review. Metabolic Brain Disease, 26(1), 79–85. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11011-011-9237-y
Ayuba, A. (2015). Cerebellar and cortical neurodegeneration in cyanide induced toxicity. Global Journal of Animal and Environmental Biology, 3(1), 32–37. https://globalscienceresearchjournals.org/journals/global-journal-of-animal-and-environmental-biology/pdf/2015/jan/Ayuba.pdf
Garg, R. K. (2024, December 13). Lathyrism, konzo, and tropical ataxic neuropathy. In MedLink Neurology. Retrieved December 13, 2025, from https://www.medlink.com/articles/lathyrism-konzo-and-tropical-ataxic-neuropathy
Jørgensen, K., Bak, S., Busk, P. K., Sørensen, C., Olsen, C. E., Puonti-Kaerlas, J., & Møller, B. L. (2011). Biosynthesis of the cyanogenic glucosides linamarin and lotaustralin in cassava: Isolation, biochemical characterization, and expression pattern of CYP71E7, the oxime-metabolizing cytochrome P450 enzyme. Plant Physiology, 155(1), 282–292. https://doi.org/10.1104/pp.110.164053
Kimani, S. T. (2014). Neurotoxicity of cassava cyanogens in rodents and non-human primates (Doctoral dissertation, University of Nairobi). University of Nairobi eRepository. https://erepository.uonbi.ac.ke/handle/11295/75633
Manalo, R. V., Ong, A. L., & Medina, P. M. (2025). Neurotoxic and neuromotor effects of cyanate, an oxidative byproduct of cyanide from linamarin in cassava: A systematic review. The North African Journal of Food and Nutrition Research, 9(19), 85–94. https://doi.org/10.51745/najfnr.9.19.85-94
Ndubuisi, N. D., & Chidiebere, A. C. U. (2018). Cyanide in cassava: A review. International Journal of Genomics and Data Mining, 2(1), Article 118. https://doi.org/10.29011/2577-0616.000118
Nzwalo, H., & Cliff, J. (2011). Konzo: From poverty, cassava, and cyanogen intake to toxico-nutritional neurological disease. PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases, 5(6), e1051. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pntd.0001051
Rivadeneyra-Domínguez, E., & Rodríguez-Landa, J. F. (2020). Preclinical and clinical research on the toxic and neurological effects of cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) consumption. Metabolic Brain Disease, 35, 65–74. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11011-019-00522-0