Abstract
We examined the neuropharmacological effects of ethanol extract of Ficus erecta Thunb leaves (EEFE) on cognitive dysfunction in a scopolamine (SCO)-induced memory impairment animal model. Memory impairment was measured using the Y-maze test and passive avoidance task (PAT). For 19 days, EEFE (100 or 200 mg/kg) was treated through oral administration. Treatment with EEFE ameliorated memory impairment in behavioral tests, along with significant protection from neuronal oxidative stress and neuronal cell loss in the brain tissues of SCO-injected mice. Antioxidant and neuroprotective effects of EEFE were further confirmed using in vitro assays. Our findings indicate that the mechanisms of neuroprotection and antioxidation of EEFE are regulated by the cholinergic system, promotion of cAMP response element-binding protein (CREB) phosphorylation, and the nuclear factor erythroid-2-related factor 2 (Nrf2)/heme oxygenase (HO)-1 signaling activation. The current study proposes that EEFE could be an encouraging plant resource and serve as a potent neuropharmacological drug candidate against neurodegenerative diseases.
Highlights
Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a devastating neurodegenerative disease with aging-related cognitive and memory dysfunction
To investigate whether the effect of ethanol extract of Ficus erecta Thunb leaves (EEFE) enhances the restoration from memory impairments, we Neuroprotective Effects of EEFE in SCO-Induced Memory Impairment Mice and H2O2-Stimulated HT22 Hippocampal Cells
The results indicate that EEFE administration recovered memory impairment by inhibiting cholinergic system dysfunction and oxidative stress in SCO-induced memory impairment mice
Summary
Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a devastating neurodegenerative disease with aging-related cognitive and memory dysfunction. Increasing reports indicate that neurodegenerative diseases such as AD are involved in enhanced oxidative stress and disorders of the cholinergic neurons. Cholinergic agonists, such as tacrine (TAC) [7, 8] and donepezil [9], are the approved pharmacological treatment for AD, they have restrictions in the form of severe toxic side effects and shorter half-lives. Many studies showed that the intake of natural extracts from plants has neuroprotective abilities such as memory enhancement, learning, and cognitive functions due to the capacity to protect neuronal cells from injury induced by neurotoxins and oxidative stress [11, 12]. Complementary and alternative medicines for treatment of AD are highly needed to be synthesized utilizing natural plant sources
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