Neuroprotective activity of L. in Alzheimer's disease in rats; role of neurotrophic factors.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is one of the most prevalent neurodegenerative disorders which affects the hippocampus and cortical neurons leading to impairment of cognitive ability. Treatment of AD depends mainly on acetylcholinesterase inhibitors, however, a novel therapeutic approach is introduced based on the maintenance of neuronal viability and functionality exerted through neurotrophic factors. In the current study, L. leaves alcoholic extract was investigated for its neuroprotective activity in AlCl-induced AD in rats. Rats were orally treated with AlCl (17 mg/kg) for 4 weeks followed by extract (150 mg/kg b.wt.) for another 6 weeks. Treatment of neuro-intoxicated rats with extract resulted in a significant regulation in neurotrophic factors; brain derived neurotrophic factor and transforming growth factor-β and pro-inflammatory cytokine; TNF. It also induced an elevation in serum levels of monoamine neurotransmitters; norepinephrine, dopamine and serotonin and a decline in brain acetlycholinesterase activity. extract also showed potent antioxidant activity as indicated by the declined malondialdehyde and elevated reduced glutathione, catalase and super oxide dismutase levels in AD rats' brains. Histological improvement was detected in the cerebral cortex, the hippocampus and striatum of the treated rats The phytochemical analysis of extract revealed high contents of flavonoids and phenolics and the major compounds were isolated and chemically characterized. Additionally, extract and the isolated compounds exerted a prominent activity in acetylcholinesterase inhibition assay with kaempferol-3-O-β-glucoside being the most potent compound showing IC of 29.03 ± 0.0155 μM. A molecular docking study indicated high affinity of kaempferol-3-O-β-robinobioside on acetylcholine esterase binding site with estimated binding free energy of -8.26 kcal/mol.