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The Effects of Astilbin on Cognitive Impairments in a Transgenic Mouse Model of Alzheimer’s Disease

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Abstract

Bioflavonoids are being utilised as neuroprotectants in the treatment of various neurological disorders, including Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Astilbin, a bioflavanoid, has been reported to have potent neuroprotective effects, but its preventive effects on amyloid-β (Aβ)-induced, Alzheimer’s disease-related, cognitive impairment, and the underlying mechanisms of these effects have not been well characterised. Five-month-old APPswe/PS1dE9 transgenic mice were randomly assigned to a vehicle group and two astilbin (either 20 or 40 mg/kg per day, intraperitoneally) groups. After 8 weeks of treatment, we observed beneficial effects of astilbin (40 mg/kg per day), including lessening learning and memory deficits and reducing plaque burden and Aβ levels. Furthermore, the expressions of both the cAMP responsive element-binding protein (CREB) and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) were significantly increased and the disturbance of AKT/GSK-3β signalling pathway was markedly ameliorated in the hippocampus of astilbin-treated (40 mg/kg per day) group. Our data suggest that astilbin might be a potential therapeutic agent against AD.

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Abbreviations

AD:

Alzheimer’s disease

AST:

Astilbin

BDNF:

Brain-derived neurotrophic factor

CREB:

CAMP responsive element-binding protein

DMSO:

Dimethylsulfoxide

MAPK:

The Ras-mitogen-activated protein kinase

MDA:

Malondialdehyde

GSH:

Glutathione

GSK-3β:

Glycogen synthase kinase-3β

PI3K/AKT:

Phosphatidylinositol 3 kinase/protein kinase B

PKA:

The cAMP/protein kinase A

T-AOC:

Total antioxidant capability

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Acknowledgments

The present work was supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China (U1304806), the China Scholarship Council (No.201408410296), the Young Backbone Teachers Assistance Scheme of Henan Province Colleges and Universities, and the Scientific Research Fund of Henan University of Science and Technology (No.09001664).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pathogen Biology, Medical College, Henan University of Science and Technology, Building 6, Anhui, Jianxi District, Luoyang, 471003, China

    Dongmei Wang, Ling Liu & Xiaoying Zhu

  2. Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Medical College, Henan University of Science and Technology, Luoyang, China

    Sanqiang Li

  3. Department of Neurology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Jingba Road 2, Zhengzhou, 450014, China

    Jing Chen

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  1. Dongmei Wang
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  2. Sanqiang Li
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Correspondence to Dongmei Wang.

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Wang, D., Li, S., Chen, J. et al. The Effects of Astilbin on Cognitive Impairments in a Transgenic Mouse Model of Alzheimer’s Disease. Cell Mol Neurobiol 37, 695–706 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10571-016-0405-9

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