Naringenin protects AlCl3/D-galactose induced neurotoxicity in rat model of AD via attenuation of acetylcholinesterase levels and inhibition of oxidative stress

• Published in: PloS one Vol. 15; no. 1; p. e0227631
• Main Authors: Haider, Saida, Liaquat, Laraib, Ahmad, Saara, Batool, Zehra, Siddiqui, Rafat Ali, Tabassum, Saiqa, Shahzad, Sidrah, Rafiq, Sahar, Naz, Narjis
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Public Library of Science 01-01-2020; Public Library of Science (PLoS)
• Subjects: Acetylcholinesterase; Acetylcholinesterase - genetics; Acetylcholinesterase - metabolism; Aluminum chloride; Aluminum Chloride - toxicity; Aluminum chlorides; Alzheimer Disease - drug therapy; Alzheimer Disease - metabolism; Alzheimer Disease - pathology; Alzheimer's disease; Animal models; Animals; Antioxidants; Antioxidants - pharmacology; Attenuation; Biochemistry; Biology and Life Sciences; Brain - drug effects; Brain - metabolism; Brain - pathology; Brain research; Chemical compounds; Cholinergics; Cognition; Cognition - drug effects; Cognitive ability; D-Galactose; Disease; Disease Models, Animal; Donepezil; Drinking water; Drug dosages; Executive Function - drug effects; Flavanones - pharmacology; Flavonoids; Galactose; Galactose - toxicity; Gene expression; Laboratory animals; Male; Medical treatment; Medicine and Health Sciences; Memory; Mental disorders; Naringenin; Neurochemistry; Neurodegeneration; Neurodegenerative diseases; Neuroprotection; Neuroprotective Agents - pharmacology; Neurotoxicity; Neurotoxicity Syndromes - etiology; Neurotoxicity Syndromes - prevention & control; Oxidative stress; Oxidative Stress - drug effects; Pharmacology; Polyphenols; Pretreatment; Rats, Wistar; Research and Analysis Methods; Rodents; Signs and symptoms; Stimulators; Vegetable oils; Pakistan; United Kingdom > UK; United States > US; Karachi Pakistan
• ISSN: 1932-6203; 1932-6203
• DOI: 10.1371/JOURNAL.PONE.0227631

Currently prescribed medications for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease (AD) that are based on acetylcholinesterase inhibition only offer symptomatic relief but do not provide protection against neurodegeneration. There appear to be an intense need for the development of therapeutic strategies that not only improve brain functions but also prevent neurodegeneration. The oxidative stress is one of the main causative factors of AD. Various antioxidants are being investigated to prevent neurodegeneration in AD. The objective of this study was to investigate the neuroprotective effects of naringenin (NAR) against AlCl3+D-gal induced AD-like symptoms in an animal model. Rats were orally pre-treated with NAR (50 mg/kg) for two weeks and then exposed to AlCl3+D-gal (150 mg/kg + 300 mg/kg) intraperitoneally for one week to develop AD-like symptoms. The standard drug, donepezil (DPZ) was used as a stimulator of cholinergic activity. Our results showed that NAR pre-treatment significantly protected AD-like behavioral disturbances in rats. In DPZ group, rats showed improved cognitive and cholinergic functions but the neuropsychiatric functions were not completely improved and showed marked histopathological alterations. However, NAR not only prevented AlCl3+D-gal induced AD-like symptoms but also significantly prevented neuropsychiatric dysfunctions in rats. Results of present study suggest that NAR may play a role in enhancing neuroprotective and cognition functions and it can potentially be considered as a neuroprotective compound for therapeutic management of AD in the future.