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Silymarin ameliorates memory deficits and neuropathological changes in mouse model of high-fat-diet-induced experimental dementia

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Abstract

A huge body evidences suggest that obesity is the single great risk factor for the development of dementia. Recently, silymarin, a flavonoid, clinically in use as a hepatoprotectant, has been reported to prevent amyloid beta-induced memory impairment by reducing oxidative stress and inflammation in mice brain. However, its potential in high-fat-diet (HFD)-induced dementia has not yet been investigated. Therefore, the present study is designed to explore the role of silymarin in HFD-induced experimental dementia in mice. Morris water maze test was employed to assess learning and memory. Various biochemical estimations including brain acetylcholinerstarse activity (AchE), thiobarbituric acid-reactive species (TBARS) level, reduced glutathione level (GSH), nirate/nitrite, and myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity were measured. Serum cholesterol level was also determined. HFD significantly impaired the cognitive abilities, along with increasing brain AchE, TBARS, MPO, nitrate/nitrite, and serum cholesterol levels. Marked reduction of brain GSH levels was observed. On the contrary, silymarin significantly reversed HFD-induced cognitive deficits and the biochemical changes. The present study indicates strong potential of silymarin in HFD-induced experimental dementia.

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Acknowledgments

The authors are thankful to the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Drug Research, Punjabi University, Patiala (India) for supporting this study and providing technical facilities for the work.

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  1. CNS and CVS Research Laboratory, Pharmacology Division, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Drug Research, Faculty of Medicine, Punjabi University, Patiala, 147002, Punjab, India

    Neha, Amit Kumar, Amteshwar S. Jaggi, Rupinder K. Sodhi & Nirmal Singh

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Correspondence to Nirmal Singh.

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Neha, Kumar, A., Jaggi, A.S. et al. Silymarin ameliorates memory deficits and neuropathological changes in mouse model of high-fat-diet-induced experimental dementia. Naunyn-Schmiedeberg's Arch Pharmacol 387, 777–787 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00210-014-0990-4

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