Anti-alzheimer’s Disease Potential of Arabian Coffee Versus Date Palm Seed Extract in Male Rats

Abstract

Abstract Objectives Utilizing the aluminum chloride rat model for AD to compare the influence of moderately caffeinated (Arabian) and decaffeinated (Date palm seed) coffee on cognitive impairment and pathological events in AD. Methods Twenty Adult Albino male rats of Wistar strain (230 ± 20 g) were divided 4 groups: Group 1: Rats received vehicle and termed as Negative control (NC) group. • Group 2: Rats received Aluminum chloride (10 mg/kg bw, i.p) for 3 weeks (Khan et al., 2013b), starting from 6th to 26th day to induce AD. They were left un-treated and termed as AlCl3 group. • Group 3: Rats were treated intraperitoneally with AlCl3 (10 mg/kg bw) + Arabian coffee aqueous extract (240 mg/kg bw/day, p.o) for 2 weeks (Jang et al., 2013), starting from the 27th day and termed as AlCl3 + Arabian coffee group. This dose is nearly equivalent to human consumption of 6 cups of coffee. • Group 4: Treated intraperitoneally with AlCl3 (10 mg/kg bw) + standardized extract of Date Palm seed dried powder (240 mg/kg bw/day, p.o) for 2 weeks, starting from the 27th day and termed as AlCl3 + Date seed extract group. Results AD rats given Arabian or Date palm seed coffee were protected against memory impairment and had lower serum levels of the abnormal protein (amyloidbeta; Aβ1–42), the central pathogenic contributor to AD, and transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β). Interestingly, Date palm seed (decaffeinated) coffee seems to provide more pronounced protection against AD than Arabian (moderately caffeinated) coffee as evidenced by the greater decrease in serum Aβ levels. These results suggest a surprising therapeutic potential of moderate caffeine intake in Arabian coffee to ameliorate AD through decreasing serum Aβ levels. However, Date palm seed (decaffeinated) coffee, rich in flavonoids, appears to provide a better AD-modifying ability through a direct reduction of Aβ production. Conclusions Consumption of Arabian coffee containing moderate caffeine seems to ameliorate AD-induced cognitive impairment via decreasing Aβ levels. Interestingly, intake of decaffeinated Date seed extract, rich in flavonoids, appears to provide a superior anti-AD potential through a direct reduction of Aβ production. Funding Sources No funding.