Preventative effects of alpha-naphtho flavone in vascular dementia.

Vascular dementia (VaD) refers to the loss of reasoning, planning, judgment, and memory as a result of reduced blood flow, inflammation, activation of immune cells, and neurodegenerative processes. Here, we tested the preventive effects of alpha-naphthoflavone (ANF) on a model of vascular dementia induced by four-vessel occlusion (4VO) in rats. Animals were treated orally for 5 consecutive days with 10 mg/kg of donepezil (a traditional therapeutic drug) and 40 and 80 mg/kg ANF. The treatment with ANF exerted effects that were similar to those induced by donepezil. This included prevention of cognitive impairment, alterations in the plasma levels of homocysteine and nitrate and the activity of acetylcholinesterase and myeloperoxidase and the tissue level of glutathione, and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances in the brain tissues. These findings suggest that herbal-derived ANF is as effective as traditional drugs in vascular dementia.

Role of ambrisentan (selective endothelin-A receptor antagonist) on cigarette smoke exposure induced cognitive impairment in Danio rerio.

BACKGROUND: Cigarette smoke is exogenous modifiable factors to changes the neurovascular complication. The chronic exposure of cigarette smoke enhances neurocognitive dysfunction. AIMS: The present study is focused on evaluating the role of ambrisentan (selective endothelin-A receptor antagonist) on cigarette smoke-induced cognitive impairment in Danio rerio. MAIN METHODS: The cognitive dysfunction was developed by cigarette smoke exposure (CSE; 10 min in 25 ml of CSE per day) for five days. The selective endothelin-A receptor antagonist i.e., ambrisentan (2.5 to 5 mg/kg; i.p. for five consecutive days) was used for testing of CSE induced cognitive dysfunction. In addition, treatment of reference drug i.e., donepezil (10 mg/kg; i.p. for five consecutive days) was used for this cognitive function study. The cognitive functions were assessed by light and dark chamber; color recognition; partition preference; horizontal compartment; and T-Maze tests. Further, the CSE induced biomarkers changes of the zebrafish brain samples were estimated. KEY FINDINGS: The treatment of ambrisentan showed a potential ameliorative effect against the CSE induced cognitive functions along with attenuation of biochemical changes. The results are comparable to donepezil-treated groups. SIGNIFICANCE: Therefore, ambrisentan can be considered for the attenuation of CSE induced impairment neurocognitive functions due to its reduction of free radical scavenging and neuroinflammatory actions as well as regulation of cholinergic neurotransmitter functions.

Curcumin prevents cigarette smoke extract induced cognitive impairment.

Curcumin is a major phytochemical constituent in Curcuma longa, an herbaceous perennial plant of Zingiberaceae family, which exhibits anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory properties. Here, we studied the therapeutic action of curcumin against CSE induced cognitive impairment in zebrafish. Montelukast (20 mg/kg), a cysteinyl-leukotriene receptor blocker was used as a reference drug. CSE exposure induced biochemical changes revealed that raise the brain acetylcholinesterase activity and lipid peroxidative products; and decrease the reduced glutathione levels in brain samples. Curcumin also protected against CSE induced neurocognitive impairment. These data suggest that curcumin can serve as a phytochemical constituent against CSE induced neurocognitive impairment.

Therapeutic evaluation of solid lipid nanoparticle of quercetin in pentylenetetrazole induced cognitive impairment of zebrafish.

BACKGROUND: Quercetin is a major flavonoid in various plants. It possesses the multiple pharmacological actions like vascular integrity and regulatory action of the blood-brain barrier. AIMS: The present study is focused on evaluating the role of solid lipid nanoparticle of quercetin in pentylenetetrazole (PTZ) induced cognitive impairment of Danio rerio species. MAIN METHODS: The memory impairment of zebrafish was induced by exposing of PTZ in 7.5 mM solution. The pretreatment of solid lipid nanoparticle of quercetin (SLN-Q; 5 and 10 mg/kg) was administered by single intraperitoneal (i.p.) injection. The reference control i.e., donepezil (10 mg/kg) was administered by single intraperitoneal (i.p.) injection. The learning and memory levels were evaluated with different tests like light and dark chamber test; partition preference test; and three (horizontal) compartment tests. In addition, the PTZ induced biochemical changes such as acetylcholinesterase activity, lipid peroxidation, and reduced glutathione levels were assessed in the brain of zebrafish. KEY FINDINGS: The solid lipid nanoparticle of quercetin found to possess the attenuating effect in PTZ induced neurocognitive impairments along with amelioration of biochemical changes. This effect is similar to that of donepezil pretreated group. SIGNIFICANCE: Therefore, this solid lipid nanoparticle of quercetin can be used as future nanomedicine for various neurodegenerative disorders like Alzheimer and Parkinson disorders due to its potential anti-oxidative, anti-lipid peroxidative and acetylcholinesterase inhibitory actions.