The aquatic environment provides a sink for the environmental pollutants that have potential to induce oxidative stress by altering neurobehavioral response of aquatic animals. Benzo[a]pyrene (B[a]P), a polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon is known to induce oxidative stress in the brain. Withania somnifera has been used traditionally for its neuroprotective effect in experimental models of neurological disorders. The present study is aimed to evaluate the neuroprotective potential of Withania somnifera leaf extract (WSLE) following exposure to waterborne B[a]P. Wild-type zebrafish (Danio rerio) were designated as naive, control (dimethyl sulfoxide), WSLE, B[a]P, and B[a]P + WSLE groups. Behavioral studies showed reversal in scototaxis (anxiety-like) behavior in B[a]P group and was restored by WSLE cosupplementation in B[a]P + WSLE group. B[a]P-induced altered antioxidant status was ameliorated by WSLE in the B[a]P + WSLE group. Previous studies showed that the periventricular gray zone (PGZ) of the optic tectum in zebrafish brain regulates scototaxis (anxiety-like) behavior. Our histopathological observation showed a significant increase in the pyknotic neuronal counts in PGZ of the B[a]P group and was ameliorated by WSLE cosupplementation. The study showed that the reversal in scototaxis behavior following exposure to waterborne B[a]P might be associated with neuromorphological alterations in PGZ, whereas a pioneer ethnopharmacological approach of WSLE cosupplementation showed its neuroprotective role to restore normal scototaxis of zebrafish. Future research directing toward understanding the role of visual circuit involved with impaired scototaxis behavior in zebrafish might provide new pathological outcomes following exposure to B[a]P.
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