Amelioration of neuroinflammation and apoptosis characterizing Alzheimer's disease by natural products

Abstract

Objective: The current study was planned to investigate anti-inflammatory and anti-apoptotic effects of Ruta graveolens and Pegenum harmala total extract against neurodegeneration characterizing Alzheimer's disease (AD) in rat model. Methods: Adult male Sprague Dawley rats were classified into five groups. Group (1) control group; group (2) AD group, was administered AlCl3 daily for one month; group (3) AD group treated orally with rivastigmine daily for three months; group (4) AD group divided into two subgroups, the first was treated orally with R. graveolens (750 mg/kg b.wt.) and the second was treated with R. graveolens (375 mg/kg b.wt.) daily for three months and group (5), AD group divided into two subgroups the first was treated orally with P. harmala (375 mg/kg b.wt.) and the second was treated with P. harmala (187.5 mg/kg b.wt.) daily for three months. Brain and serum acetycholinesterase (AchE) activity, monocyte chemotactic protein-1 (MCP-1), leukotriene B4 (LTB4) and B-cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2) levels were detected. Brain histological investigation of all studied groups was carried out. Results: It showed that AlCl3 administration resulted in significant elevation in brain and serum AchE, MCP-1 and LTB4 levels accompanied with significant depletion in brain and serum Bcl-2 level. Brain histological investigation of rats administered AlCl3 showed appearance of Aβ plaques characterizing AD. Treatment of rats with the selected extracts caused marked improvement in the measured biochemical parameters as well as in the histological feature of the brain. Conclusion: R. graveolens and P. harmala possess anti-inflammatory and anti-apoptotic effect against neuroinflammation characterizing AD.