Protective action of Cecropia pachystachya extract and enriched flavonoid fraction against memory deficits, inflammation and oxidative damage in lipopolysaccharide challenged mice

Abstract

Ethnopharmacological relevanceCecropia pachystachya (CP) Trécul is a medicinal plant native to South and Central America with several pharmacological properties, such as anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective. Aim of the studyIn this study, we investigated the effect of CP extract (200 mg/kg) and its enriched flavonoid fraction (EFF-CP) (50 and 100 mg/kg) in a model of lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced neuroinflammation. Material and methodsCP and EFF-CP were administered intragastrically for 14 days and LPS (250 μg/kg) was administered intraperitoneally from the 8th to the 14th days. LC/DAD/MS analysis showed the presence of isoorientin, orientin, and isovitexin as major compounds. ResultsThe results demonstrated that CP extract and EFF-CP gave protection against LPS-induced short-term and long-term memory deficits. The treatment with CP and/or EFF-CP protected against LPS-induced increases in reactive species, nitrites, total thiol and lipoperoxidation in the cerebral cortex, hippocampus and striatum. Moreover, CP and EFF-CP restored superoxide dismutase and catalase activities that had been reduced by LPS in the cerebral cortex, hippocampus and striatum. TNF-α levels were increased in the cortex, striatum and hippocampus in the LPS group, while CP treatment prevented this change in the cerebral cortex. EFF-CP decreased the levels of this cytokine in all structures analyzed at both doses. ConclusionCP extract and its EFF-CP are important therapeutic targets for the management of neuroinflammation observed in neurodegenerative diseases.