Volume 19, Issue 44, July - December, 2025

Beetroot juice ameliorates neurotoxicity in the cerebellum following combined ingestion of coffee and Garcinia kola (bitter kola)

Akpanabasi A Malachy^1♦, Idorenyin U Umoh¹, Iboro E Edet¹

¹Department of Human Anatomy, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Uyo, Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria

^♦Corresponding author
Akpanabasi A Malachy, Department f Human Anatomy, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Uyo, Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria

ABSTRACT

Over the years, the influence of diet on neurological health has been extensively studied, especially regarding the effect of plant materials and beverages on the morphology and function of the brain. This study explored the impact of beetroot juice, coffee, and Garcinia kola (bitter kola) on the cerebellum of adult Wistar rats. Fifty rats weighing 180 - 250 g were divided into ten groups of five animals each (n = 5). Group 1 served as the normal control group. Groups 2 to 10 served as the experimental groups receiving low and high doses (362.3 mg/kg body weight and 1086.8 mg/kg body weight) of coffee; low and high doses (273.9 mg/kg body weight and 821.6 mg/kg body weight) of Garcinia kola and beetroot juice (3.5 mL/kg body weight) for 28 days. This study evaluated body weight changes and conducted histological analysis of the cerebellar tissues. Significant weight loss with severe cerebellar damage was recorded among rats administered high doses of coffee and Garcinia kola. Combination of both substances intensified the neurotoxic effects. However, the addition of beetroot juice showed neuroprotective effect. Rats that received beetroot juice along with coffee and Garcinia kola showed improved body weight changes and better histological features. In conclusion, excessive intake of coffee and Garcinia kola can harm cerebellar health and impair motor function, while beetroot juice appears to mitigate these effects.

Keywords: Coffee, Garcinia kola, beetroot juice, cerebellum

Drug Discovery, 2025, 19(44), e18dd2107

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Published: 05 September 2025