Improvement of Learning and Memory in Senescence-Accelerated Mice by S-Allylcysteine in Mature Garlic Extract.

S-allylcysteine (SAC), a major thioallyl compound contained in mature garlic extract (MGE), is known to be a neuroactive compound. This study was designed to investigate the effects of SAC on primary cultured hippocampal neurons and cognitively impaired senescence-accelerated mice prone 10 (SAMP10). Treatment of these neurons with MGE or SAC significantly increased the total neurite length and number of dendrites. SAMP10 mice fed MGE or SAC showed a significant improvement in memory dysfunction in pharmacological behavioral analyses. The decrease of α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid (AMPA) receptor, N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) receptor, and phosphorylated α-calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (CaMKII) in the hippocampal tissue of SAMP10 mice fed MGE or SAC was significantly suppressed, especially in the MGE-fed group. These findings suggest that SAC positively contributes to learning and memory formation, having a beneficial effect on brain function. In addition, multiple components (aside from SAC) contained in MGE could be useful for improving cognitive function by acting as neurotrophic factors.

Nobiletin, a citrus flavonoid, ameliorates cognitive impairment, oxidative burden, and hyperphosphorylation of tau in senescence-accelerated mouse.

Senescence-accelerated mouse prone 8 (SAMP8) is a model of aging characterized by the early onset of learning and memory impairment and various pathological features of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Our recent studies have demonstrated that nobiletin, a polymethoxylated flavone from citrus peels, ameliorates learning and memory impairment in olfactory-bulbectomized mice, amyloid precursor protein transgenic mice, and NMDA receptor antagonist-treated mice. Here, we present evidence that this natural compound improves age-related cognitive impairment and reduces oxidative stress and tau phosphorylation in SAMP8 mice. Treatment with nobiletin (10 or 50mg/kg) reversed the impairment of recognition memory and context-dependent fear memory in SAMP8 mice. Treatment with nobiletin also restored the decrease in the GSH/GSSG ratio in the brain of SAMP8 mice. In addition, increases in glutathione peroxidase and manganese-superoxide dismutase activities, as well as a decrease in protein carbonyl level, were observed in the brain of nobiletin-treated SAMP8 mice. Furthermore, nobiletin reduced tau phosphorylation in the hippocampus of SAMP8 mice. Together, the markedly beneficial effects of nobiletin represent a potentially useful treatment for ameliorating the learning and memory deficits, oxidative stress, and hyperphosphorylation of tau in aging as well as age-related neurodegenerative diseases such as AD.