scholarly journals Flos Puerariae Extract Ameliorates Cognitive Impairment in Streptozotocin-Induced Diabetic Mice

2015 ◽  
Vol 2015 ◽  
pp. 1-7 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zhong-he Liu ◽  
Hong-guang Chen ◽  
Pan-feng Wu ◽  
Qing Yao ◽  
Hong-ke Cheng ◽  
...  

Objective. The effects of Flos Puerariae extract (FPE) on cognitive impairment associated with diabetes were assessed in C57BL/6J mice.Methods. Experimental diabetic mice model was induced by one injection of 50 mg/kg streptozotocin (STZ) for 5 days consecutively. FPE was orally administrated at the dosages of 50, 100, or 200 mg/kg/day, respectively. The learning and memory ability was assessed by Morris water maze test. Body weight, blood glucose, free fatty acid (FFA) and total cholesterol (TCH) in serum, malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), and acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activities in cerebral cortex and hippocampus were also measured.Results. Oral administration of FPE significantly improved cognitive deficits in STZ-induced diabetic mice. FPE treatment also maintained body weight and ameliorated hyperglycemia and dyslipidemia in diabetic mice. Additionally, decreased MDA level, enhanced CAT, and GSH-Px activities in cerebral cortex or hippocampus, as well as alleviated AChE activity in cerebral cortex, were found in diabetic mice supplemented with FPE.Conclusion. This study suggests that FPE ameliorates memory deficits in experimental diabetic mice, at least partly through the normalization of metabolic abnormalities, ameliorated oxidative stress, and AChE activity in brain.

2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (3) ◽  
pp. 249-258 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pavan Thapak ◽  
Mahendra Bishnoi ◽  
Shyam S. Sharma

Background: Diabetes is a chronic metabolic disorder affecting the central nervous system. A growing body of evidence has depicted that high glucose level leads to the activation of the transient receptor potential melastatin 2 (TRPM2) channels. However, there are no studies targeting TRPM2 channels in diabetes-induced cognitive decline using a pharmacological approach. Objective: The present study intended to investigate the effects of 2-aminoethoxydiphenyl borate (2-APB), a TRPM2 inhibitor, in diabetes-induced cognitive impairment. Methods: Streptozotocin (STZ, 50 mg/kg, i.p.) was used to induce diabetes in rats. Animals were randomly divided into the treatment group, model group and age-matched control and pre se group. 2-APB treatment was given for three weeks to the animals. After 10 days of behavioural treatment, parameters were performed. Animals were sacrificed at 10th week of diabetic induction and the hippocampus and cortex were isolated. After that, protein and mRNA expression study was performed in the hippocampus. Acetylcholinesterase (AchE) activity was done in the cortex. Results: : Our study showed the 10th week diabetic animals developed cognitive impairment, which was evident from the behavioural parameters. Diabetic animals depicted an increase in the TRPM2 mRNA and protein expression in the hippocampus as well as increased AchE activity in the cortex. However, memory associated proteins were down-regulated, namely Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (CaMKII-Thr286), glycogen synthase kinase 3 beta (GSK-3β-Ser9), cAMP response element-binding protein (CREB-Ser133), and postsynaptic density protein 95 (PSD-95). Gene expression of parvalbumin, calsequestrin and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) were down-regulated while mRNA level of calcineurin A/ protein phosphatase 3 catalytic subunit alpha (PPP3CA) was upregulated in the hippocampus of diabetic animals. A three-week treatment with 2-APB significantly ameliorated the alteration in behavioural cognitive parameters in diabetic rats. Moreover, 2-APB also down-regulated the expression of TRPM2 mRNA and protein in the hippocampus as well as AchE activity in the cortex of diabetic animals as compared to diabetic animals. Moreover, the 2-APB treatment also upregulated the CaMKII (Thr-286), GSK-3β (Ser9), CREB (Ser133), and PSD-95 expression and mRNA levels of parvalbumin, calsequestrin, and BDNF while mRNA level of calcineurin A was down-regulated in the hippocampus of diabetic animals. Conclusion: : This study confirms the ameliorative effect of TRPM2 channel inhibitor in the diabetes- induced cognitive deficits. Inhibition of TRPM2 channels reduced the calcium associated downstream signaling and showed a neuroprotective effect of TRPM2 channels in diabetesinduced cognitive impairment.


2020 ◽  
Vol 16 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dang Kim Thu ◽  
Dao Thi Vui ◽  
Nguyen Thi Ngoc Huyen ◽  
Nguyen Thi Thanh Binh ◽  
Nguyen Thi Huyen ◽  
...  

Background: Huperzia phlegmaria has been used for the treatment of neurological disorder. Alkaloids are main bioactive compounds found in Huperzia phlegmaria. We aimed to investigate the acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibitory activity in vitro of Huperzia phlegmaria alkaloid extract (HpAE) and protective effects on mice which were induced cognitive deficits by scopolamine. Methods: AChE inhibitory activity and kinetic inhibition mechanism was investigated by Ellman's assay. Mice were administrated orally HpAE (30 mg/kg and 60 mg/kg) for fourteen days, and injected scopolamine at a dose of 1 mg/kg intraperitoneally for four days to induce cognitive impairment. The Y-maze and the Morris water maze were used for evaluating the memory behaviors. Acetylcholine (ACh) levels and AChE activity were measured in brain tissue. Glutathione peroxidase (GPx), superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities, and malondialdehyde (MDA) groups were also evaluated in the mouse brain tissues. Results: Our data showed that HpAE had the strong AChE inhibitory activity with an IC50 value of 5.12 ± 0.48 μg/mL in a concentration-dependent manner. Kinetic inhibition analysis demonstrated that HpPAE inhibited AChE followed the mixed inhibition type with Ki (representing the affinity of the enzyme and inhibitor) was 4.37 ± 0.35 µg/mL. Scopolamine induced the cognitive impairment in Morris Water Maze and Y-maze test along with reduced brain levels of ACh and antioxidant enzyme and increased AChE activity in mouse brain tissues. Treatment with HpAE at both dose (30 mg/kg and 60 mg/kg) decreased the SCP-induced cognitive impairment in both behavioral tests along with decreased acetylcholinesterase activity and MDA level, and increased ACh level and antioxidant enzyme in mouse brain tissues. Conclusion: Our results suggested that the HpAE at both dose (30 mg/kg and 60 mg/kg) may be used for prevent and treatment of Alzheimer’s disease.


Author(s):  
Abdulrahman Al-Mirza ◽  
Omar Al-Taei ◽  
Tariq Al-Saadi

AbstractCraniopharyngiomas (CP) are brain tumors that often occur in children and adolescent that results in many neurological and endocrinological disorders. The aim of this systematic review is to provide updated version of studies used to formalize standard tests used for cognitive impairment in pediatric patients with craniopharyngioma. A systematic review was conducted in PubMed, EBSCO, ProQuest, Science Direct, Wiley Online, and Springer to identify studies assessing cognitive impairment in pediatric patients with craniopharyngioma. Academic and learning dysfunctions were reported in seven studies among 41 of 178 patients (23%). Visual–spatial deficits were reported in six studies. Speech and verbal dysfunctions were reported in three studies. Memory deficits were reported in eight studies among 61 of 197 patients (31%). Motor dysfunctions were reported in five studies. Sleep related issues were reported in four studies among 33 of 70 patients (47.1%). Patients with treated pediatric CP demonstrate a high incidence of neurological deficits including cognitive dysfunctions. Academic and learning dysfunctions, visual–spatial deficits, speech and verbal dysfunctions, memory deficits, and sleep-related issues were the most commonly reported cognitive deficits in the present study.


Toxics ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
pp. 19 ◽  
Author(s):  
Samaila Chiroma ◽  
Mohamad Baharuldin ◽  
Che Mat Taib ◽  
Zulkhairi Amom ◽  
Saravanan Jagadeesan ◽  
...  

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder with cholinergic dysfunctions and impaired redox homeostasis. The plant Centella asiatica (CA) is renowned for its nutritional benefits and herbal formulas for promoting health, enhancing cognition, and its neuroprotective effects. The present study aims to investigate the protective role of CA on D-gal/AlCl3-induced cognitive deficits in rats. The rats were divided into six groups and administered with donepezil 1 mg/kg/day, CA (200, 400, and 800 mg/kg/day) and D-gal 60 mg/kg/day + AlCl3 200 mg/kg/day for 10 weeks. The ethology of the rats was evaluated by the Morris water maze test. The levels of acetylcholinesterase (AChE), phosphorylated tau (P-tau), malondialdehyde (MDA) and activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), in the hippocampus and cerebral cortex were estimated by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Additionally, the ultrastructure of the prefrontal cortex of the rats’ was observed using transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Rats administered with D-gal/AlCl3 exhibited cognitive deficits, decreased activities of SOD, and marked increase in AChE and MDA levels. Further, prominent alterations in the ultrastructure of the prefrontal cortex were observed. Conversely, co-administration of CA with D-gal/AlCl3 improved cognitive impairment, decreased AChE levels, attenuated the oxidative stress in hippocampus and cerebral cortex, and prevented ultrastructural alteration of neurons in the prefrontal cortex. Irrespective of the dose of CA administered, the protective effects were comparable to donepezil. In conclusion, this study suggests that CA attenuated the cognitive deficits in rats by restoring cholinergic function, attenuating oxidative stress, and preventing the morphological aberrations.


Author(s):  
Samuel Nderitu Nyaga ◽  
Peter Mbaabu Mathiu ◽  
Cecilia Moraa Onyango ◽  
Gerald Otwabe Areba

Background: Diabetes mellitus (DM) poses immense challenge to the health of people worldwide. Current therapies are limited by cost and adverse effects. Solanum nigrum, a complex of many species in the family Solanaceae has been recorded to be used by many communities in the management of DM. The aim of this study was to evaluate the phytochemical, antidiabetic efficacy and safety of two species, namely; Solanum villosum and S. nigrum var sarrachoides using streptozotocin-induced diabetic mice model.Methods: Qualitative assessment for phytochemical constituents was carried out. Acute toxicity was conducted based on ‘Organisation of Economic Cooperation and Development’ 2001 guidelines. Diabetes was induced by injection of streptozotocin at a dose of 200 mg/kg body weight intraperitoneal after the mice fasted for 8 hours. Aqueous extracts were administered orally using an oral gavage at doses of 150, and 300 mg/kg body weight for each plant daily and monitored weekly for 28 days.Results: Both plants contain vital phytochemicals. Flavonoids, alkaloids, tannins, saponins, phenols, and glycosides were present in both plants. However, phytosterols and coumarins were absent in S. villosum. Additionally, both plants did not show toxicity. Both plants showed efficacy with S. nigrum var sarrachoides being more potent at both doses.Conclusions: The study validates the use of these plants by herbalists and recommends further studies on them with the aim of elucidating the active compounds that can be used as novel therapies for diabetes. Additionally, the study recommends the evaluation of other species in this complex for antidiabetic properties.


2012 ◽  
Vol 30 (4) ◽  
pp. 339-345 ◽  
Author(s):  
Guomin Li ◽  
Xuezhu Zhang ◽  
Haiyan Cheng ◽  
Xuemei Shang ◽  
Hui Xie ◽  
...  

Objectives To examine whether acupuncture could improve cognitive deficits and reduce the loss of neurons in mice models of ageing. Methods Male 7.5-month-old senescence-accelerated mouse prone 8 (SAMP8) and age-matched senescence-resistant inbred strains 1 (SAMR1) were divided into four groups (n=15 per group): SAMP8 acupuncture group (Pa), SAMP8 non-acupuncture point control group (Pn), SAMP8 control group (Pc) and SAMR1 normal control group (Rc). The behaviours were examined by the Morris water maze test and the neuron density in the hippocampus was estimated by the optical fractionator technique. Results The Morris water maze test demonstrated that the cognitive deficits of SAMP8 mice were improved by acupuncture treatment. Neuronal loss was found in hippocampal regions CA1 (−24%), CA3 (−18%) and DG (−28%) of Pc compared with Rc. The neuron number in hippocampal CA3 and DG of the Pa group was significantly increased by therapeutic acupuncture compared with the Pc group. Conclusions Acupuncture improved the cognitive impairment of middle-aged SAMP8 mice which could be attributed to the reduced neuron loss in hippocampal regions CA3 and DG. These results suggest that reducing neuron loss in the hippocampus by acupuncture is a potential therapeutic approach for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease and cognitive impairment diseases.


2014 ◽  
Vol 2014 ◽  
pp. 1-11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xue-Fei Ji ◽  
Tian-Yan Chi ◽  
Qian Xu ◽  
Xiao-Lu He ◽  
Xiao-Yu Zhou ◽  
...  

The effects of xanthoceraside on learning and memory impairment were investigated and the possible mechanism associated with the protection of mitochondria was also preliminarily explored in Alzheimer’s disease (AD) mice model induced by intracerebroventricular (i.c.v.) injection of Aβ1-42. The results indicated that xanthoceraside (0.08–0.32 mg/kg) significantly improved learning and memory impairment in Morris water maze test and Y-maze test. Xanthoceraside significantly reversed the aberrant decrease of ATP levels and attenuated the abnormal increase of ROS levels both in the cerebral cortex and hippocampus in mice injected with Aβ1-42. Moreover, xanthoceraside dose dependently reversed the decrease of COX, PDHC, and KGDHC activity in isolated cerebral cortex mitochondria of the mice compared with Aβ1-42 injected model mice. In conclusion, xanthoceraside could improve learning and memory impairment, promote the function of mitochondria, decrease the production of ROS, and inhibit oxidative stress. The improvement effects on mitochondria may be through withstanding the damage of Aβto mitochondrial respiratory chain and the key enzymes in Kreb’s cycle. Therefore, the results from present study and previous study indicate that xanthoceraside could be a competitive candidate for the treatment of AD.


PeerJ ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 5 ◽  
pp. e3155 ◽  
Author(s):  
Guo-Jun Jiang ◽  
Xue Han ◽  
Yu-Long Tao ◽  
Ya-Ping Deng ◽  
Jia-Wen Yu ◽  
...  

Background & AimsMetformin is currently the most widely used first-line hypoglycemic agent for diabetes mellitus. Besides glucose-lowering action, there is increasingly interest in the potential anti-inflammatory action of this drug. In the present study, we investigated the actions of metformin on experimental insulitis using STZ-induced diabetic mice.MethodsMice with acute diabetes induced by STZ were administered metformin by gavage. Changes of blood glucose and body weight, and the daily amount of food and water intake were measured. Pancreatic tissues were collected for histologic analyses. Pathological assessment and immunohistochemistry analysis were used to determine the effect of metformin on insulitis. Inflammatory cytokines in the pancreas and insulin levels were measured through ELISA analysis.ResultsMetformin significantly reduced blood glucose levels and improved aberrant water intake behavior in experimental diabetic mice. No significant differences were observed in terms of body weight and food intake behavior in metformin-treated animals. In the STZ-induced model of diabetes, we found the appearance of pronounced insulitis. However, metformin administration reduced the severity of insulitis assessed by blind pathological scoring. In addition, metformin treatment improved insulin levels in experimental diabetic mice. ELISA assay revealed decreased levels of inflammatory response marker IL-1βand TNF-αin the pancreatic tissues following metformin treatment.ConclusionMetformin attenuated insulitis in the STZ-induced mice model of diabetes. This islet-protective effect might be partly correlated with the anti-inflammatory action of metformin.


Biomedicines ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (3) ◽  
pp. 284
Author(s):  
Cheng-Wei Lu ◽  
Tzu-Yu Lin ◽  
Tai-Long Pan ◽  
Pei-Wen Wang ◽  
Kuan-Ming Chiu ◽  
...  

Cognitive impairment is not only associated with seizures but also reported as an adverse effect of antiepileptic drugs. Thus, new molecules that can ameliorate seizures and maintain satisfactory cognitive function should be developed. The antiepileptic potential of asiatic acid, a triterpene derived from the medicinal herb Centella asiatica, has already been demonstrated; however, its role in epilepsy-related cognitive deficits is yet to be determined. In this study, we evaluated the effects of asiatic acid on cognitive deficits in rats with kainic acid (KA)-induced seizure and explored the potential mechanisms underlying these effects. Our results revealed that asiatic acid administrated intraperitoneally 30 min prior to KA (15 mg/kg) injection ameliorated seizures and significantly improved KA-induced memory deficits, as demonstrated by the results of the Morris water maze test. In addition, asiatic acid ameliorated neuronal damage, inhibited calpain activation, and increased protein kinase B (AKT) activation in the hippocampus of KA-treated rats. Asiatic acid also increased the levels of synaptic proteins and the number of synaptic vesicles as well as attenuated mitochondrial morphology damage in the hippocampus of KA-treated rats. Furthermore, proteomic and Western blot analyses of hippocampal synaptosomes revealed that asiatic acid reversed KA-induced changes in mitochondria function-associated proteins, including lipoamide dehydrogenase, glutamate dehydrogenase 1 (GLUD1), ATP synthase (ATP5A), and mitochondrial deacetylase sirtuin-3 (SIRT3). Our data suggest that asiatic acid can prevent seizures and improve cognitive impairment in KA-treated rats by reducing hippocampal neuronal damage through the inhibition of calpain activation and the elevation of activated AKT, coupled with an increase in synaptic and mitochondrial function.


2017 ◽  
Vol 2 (20;2) ◽  
pp. 53-67
Author(s):  
Jianxiong An

Background: Chronic pain often results in cognitive impairment. Our previous study showed that trigeminal neuralgia induced by cobra venom leads to spatial learning and memory deficits, although the underlying mechanism remains unclear. However, recent evidence indicates that the c-AMP-responsive element binding protein (CREB)/brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) pathway plays a critical role in various etiologies of cognitive deficits. Objectives: Our aim was to explore the CREB/BDNF pathway to determine the molecular mechanisms involved in the pathogenesis of cognitive impairment caused by cobra venominduced trigeminal neuralgia. Study Design: A randomized, controlled animal study. Setting: Department of Anesthesiology, Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical University. Methods: Fifty male Sprague–Dawley rats were randomly divided into 3 groups: cobra venom group, sham group, and control group. Cobra venom or saline was injected into the sheath of the infraorbital nerve (ION), respectively. Video recordings and mechanical thresholds were used to analyze changes in behavioral activity 3 days before surgery and 4, 7, 14, 21, 28, and 56 days after surgery. Morris water maze tests were conducted at 4- and 8-week time points after surgery to evaluate spatial learning and memory. We also investigated expression changes of phosphorylated CREB (p-CREB) and BDNF in the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex (PFC) using western blotting and immunohistochemistry. Results: Cobra venom-treated rats exhibited significant changes in face grooming, as well as exploratory and resting behaviors, compared with the control group and sham group (both P < 0.001). Rats in the cobra venom group exhibited slightly impaired acquisition (P < 0.05) without memory deficits (P > 0.05) in the first water maze protocol. In the second water maze test, rats in the cobra venom group exhibited spatial learning and memory deficits, with fewer platform site crossings during the probe trial (P < 0.05). Moreover, results showed decreased p-CREB and BDNF expressions in the hippocampus and PFC in the cobra venom group, with significant differences at 9 weeks post-surgery (P < 0.05). Limitations: No signaling inhibitor or genetic manipulation was administered to further confirm upstream factors of the CREB/BDNF pathway in cognitive deficits caused by chronic trigeminal neuralgia. Conclusions: The findings suggest that cognitive impairment caused by cobra venom-induced trigeminal neuralgia is associated with downregulation of the CREB/BDNF pathway in the hippocampus and PFC. Key words: Cognitive impairment, the CREB/BDNF pathway, cobra venom, trigeminal neuralgia, hippocampus, prefrontal cortex, free behavior, Morris water maze


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