Neuroprotective mechanisms of ayurvedic antidementia botanical Bacopa monniera.
Alzheimer's disease is a neurodegenerative disorder characterized by progressive dementia. Bacopa monniera is described in the Ayurvedic Materia Medica, as a therapeutically useful herb for the treatment of cognitive impairment, thus supporting its possible anti-Alzheimer's properties. Our studies have shown that Bacopa monniera reduces beta-amyloid deposits in the brain of an Alzheimer's disease animal model. The objective of this study was to establish the presence of endogenous substances in Bacopa monniera extract (BmE) that will impact components of the oxidative stress cascade such as the reduction of divalent metals, scavenging of reactive oxygen species, alterations of lipoxygenase activity and hydrogen peroxide-induced lipid peroxidation. The extract contained polyphenols and sulfhydryl contents suggestive of endogenous antioxidant activity. The results demonstrated that BmE reduced divalent metals, dose-dependently scavenged reactive oxygen species, decreased the formation of lipid peroxides and inhibited lipoxygenase activity. These data combined with our previous studies that have shown that BmE treatment reduces beta-amyloid levels in the brain of an Alzheimer's disease doubly transgenic mouse model of rapid amyloid deposition (PSAPP mice) suggesting mechanisms of action relevant to the treatment of Alzheimer's disease.
Dhanasekaran
Muralikrishnan
M
Department of Neurology, Scott and White Clinic, Texas A&M University System HSC College of Medicine, Temple, Texas, USA. .
Tharakan
Binu
B
Holcomb
Leigh A
LA
Hitt
Angie R
AR
Young
Keith A
KA
Manyam
Bala V
BV
D000818:Animals; D034681:Bacopa / Q000737:chemistry*; D002614:Chelating Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology; D004249:DNA Damage; D005419:Flavonoids / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology; D016166:Free Radical Scavengers / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation / Q000187:drug effects; D008515:Medicine, Ayurvedic; D051379:Mice; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects; D010636:Phenols / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology; D059808:Polyphenols; D013438:Sulfhydryl Compounds / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology
D002614:Chelating Agents; D005419:Flavonoids; D016166:Free Radical Scavengers; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; D010636:Phenols; D010936:Plant Extracts; D059808:Polyphenols; D013438:Sulfhydryl Compounds