Akintoye Olabode OluwadamilareAjibare Ayodeji JohnsonFolawiyo M. A.Asuku Abraham OlufemiJimoh- Abdulghaffar Hidaayah OluwamayowaAkintoye A. O.Babalola K. T.Idowu O. O.Oyiza Y. G.2025-05-082025-05-082022-12Virgin coconut oil; sodium benzoate; acetylcholinesterase; catalase; superoxide dismutase; oxidative stresshttps://doi.org/10.54548/njps.v37i2.10.https://uilspace.unilorin.edu.ng/handle/123456789/16442The effect of virgin coconut oil (VCO)-supplemented diet on sodium benzoate (SB)-induced neurotoxicity in male Wistar rats was investigated. Twenty (20) male Wistar rats weighing 160-180g were divided into four (4) groups: Control which received 1ml /kg b.w. of normal saline, SB-treated received 200 mg/kg b.w, SB + Low Dose VCO-treated (SB + 5% VCO mixed with 95g of rat chow), and SB + High Dose VCO-treated (SB+ 15% VCO mixed with 85g of rat chow). The brain was removed, homogenised and centrifuged for NRF-2, NF-kB, and acetylcholinesterase (AchE) gene expression levels. Also, the blood sample was collected and centrifuged for assessment of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and IL1B levels. One-way ANOVA and Tukey post hoc tests were used to analyse data. SB-treated rats with no intervention showed anxiety-like behaviour and impaired memory as depicted by a significant (p<0.0001) increase in anxiety index, brain NF-KB, serum IL1B and AchE gene expression level, decreased in the recognition ratio, spontaneous alternation performance, CAT and SOD levels, and NRF-2 expression level when compared to other groups (especially control and SB + 5% VCO). VCO-supplemented diet (both 5% and 15%) significantly (p<0.0001) increased the CAT and SOD levels, increased the NRF-2 gene expression level, and significantly (p <0.0001) decreased the IL1-B level. Moreover, 5% VCO significantly (p<0.0001) decreased the anxiety index, decreased AchE and NFkB gene expression levels, increased spontaneous alternation performance, and increased recognition ratio compared to 15% VCO. VCO showed a neuroprotective effect in attenuating cognitive impairment and anxiety-like behaviour in SB-induced model by modulating oxidative stress and inflammatory pathways, and also enhancing cholinergic neurotransmissionenArticle