title: Effects of caffeic acid on behavioral parameters and on the activity of acetylcholinesterase in different tissues from adult rats.
abstract: Acetylcholinesterase (AChE) is distributed throughout the body in both neuronal and non-neuronal tissues and plays an important role in the regulation of physiological events. Caffeic acid is a phenolic compound that has anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective properties. The aim of this study was to investigate in vitro and in vivo whether caffeic acid alters the AChE activity and behavioral parameters in rats. In the in vitro study, the concentrations of 0, 0.1, 0.5, 1.0, 1.5, and 2mM of caffeic acid were used. For the in vivo study, five groups were evaluated: group I (control); group II (canola oil), group III (10mg/kg of caffeic acid); group IV (50mg/kg of caffeic acid) and group V (100mg/kg of caffeic acid). Caffeic acid was diluted in canola oil and administered for 30 days. In vitro, the caffeic acid increased the AChE activity in the cerebral cortex, cerebellum, hypothalamus, whole blood, and lymphocytes at different concentrations. In muscle, this compound caused an inhibition in the AChE activity at concentrations of 0.5, 1.0, 1.5, and 2mM when compared to the control (P<0.05). In vivo, 50 and 100mg/kg of caffeic acid decreased the AChE activity in the cerebral cortex and striatum and increased the activity of this enzyme in the cerebellum, hippocampus, hypothalamus, pons, lymphocytes, and muscles when compared to the control group (P<0.05). The amount of 100mg/kg of caffeic acid improved the step-down latencies in the inhibitory avoidance. Our results demonstrated that caffeic acid improved memory and interfered with the cholinergic signaling. As a natural and promising compound caffeic acid should be considered potentially therapeutic in disorders that involve the cholinergic system.
authors.affiliation: Programa de Pós-Graduação em Bioquímica Toxicológica, Centro de Ciências Naturais e Exatas, Universidade Federal de Santa Maria, Av. Roraima, 97105-900 Santa Maria, RS, Brazil.
authors.forename: Javed
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Anwar
authors.forename: Roselia Maria
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Spanevello
authors.forename: Gustavo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Thomé
authors.forename: Naiara
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Stefanello
authors.forename: Roberta
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Schmatz
authors.forename: Jessié
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gutierres
authors.forename: Juliano
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Vieira
authors.forename: Jucimara
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Baldissarelli
authors.forename: Fabiano Barbosa
authors.initials: FB
authors.lastname: Carvalho
authors.forename: Michelle Melgarejo
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: da Rosa
authors.forename: Maribel Antonello
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Rubin
authors.forename: Amanda
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fiorenza
authors.forename: Vera Maria
authors.initials: VM
authors.lastname: Morsch
authors.forename: Maria Rosa Chitolina
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Schetinger
mesh_terms: D000110:Acetylcholinesterase / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects*; D002109:Caffeic Acids / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats
chemical_list: D002109:Caffeic Acids; D000110:Acetylcholinesterase; C040048:caffeic acid