Ameliorating Effect on Aβ-Induced Alzheimer’s Mice by <i>Litsea cubeba</i> Persoon Powder

• Main Authors: Kuan-Tseng Lee, Chen-Yeon Chu, Shen-Shih Chiang
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2021-09-01
• Series: Molecules
• Subjects: Alzheimer’s disease; amyloid β protein; <i>Litsea cubeba</i> Persoon; neurotoxicity; cognitive impairment
• Online Access: https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/26/18/5709

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is caused by excessive oxidative damage and aging. The objective of this study was to investigate the anti-dementia effect of LCP fruit powder on amyloid β (Aβ)-induced Alzheimer’s mice. The composition of LCP essential oil was determined by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. In addition, the water maze was used to evaluate the learning and memorizing abilities of the mice. The concentrations of malondialdehyde (MDA), protein carbonyl, phosphorylated τ-protein, and the deposition of Aβ plaques in mouse brains were also assessed. The results showed that the main components of essential oils in LCP and d-limonene, neral, and geranial contents were 14.15%, 30.94%, and 31.74%, respectively. Furthermore, oral administration with different dosages of LCP significantly decreased the escape time (21.25~33.62 s) and distance (3.23~5.07 m) in the reference memory test, and increased the duration time (26.14~28.90 s) and crossing frequency (7.00~7.88 times) in the target zone of probe test (<i>p</i> < 0.05). LCP also inhibited the contents of MDA and the phosphor-τ-protein from oxidative stress, reduced the brain atrophy by about 3~8%, and decreased the percentage of Aβ plaques from 0.44 to 0.05%. Finally, it was observed that the minimum dosage of LCP fruit powder (LLCP, 30.2 mg/day) could prevent oxidative stress induced by Aβ and subsequently facilitate memory and learning deficits in Aβ-induced neurotoxicity and cognitively impaired mice.