title: Supplementation of Convolvulus pluricaulis attenuates scopolamine-induced increased tau and amyloid precursor protein (AβPP) expression in rat brain.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Scopolamine is known to produce amnesia due to blockade of the cholinergic neurotransmission. The present study investigated the potential of Convolvulus pluricaulis (CP) to attenuate scopolamine (2 mg/kg, i.p) induced increased protein and mRNA levels of tau, amyloid precursor protein (AβPP), amyloid β (Aβ) levels and histopathological changes in rat cerebral cortex.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study was conducted on male Wistar rats (250 ± 20 g) divided into four groups of eight animals each. Groups 1 and 2 served as controls receiving normal saline and scopolamine for 4 weeks, respectively. Group 3 received rivastigmine (standard) and group 4 received aqueous extract of CP simultaneously with scopolamine. Western blot and RT-PCR analysis were used to evaluate the levels of protein and mRNA of amyloid precursor protein (AβPP) and tau in rat cortex and ELISA was used to measure the amyloid β (Aβ) levels. Histopathology was also performed on cortical section of all groups.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Oral administration of CP extract (150 mg/kg) to scopolamine treated rats reduced the increased protein and mRNA levels of tau and AβPP levels followed by reduction in Aβ levels compared with scopolamine treated group. The potential of extract to prevent scopolamine neurotoxicity was reflected at the microscopic level as well, indicative of its neuroprotective effects.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  CP treatment alleviated neurotoxic effect of scopolamine reflects its potential as potent neuroprotective agent.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Rhode Island, RI, USA.
authors.forename: Syed Waseem
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Bihaqi
authors.forename: Avninder Pal
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Singh
authors.forename: Manisha
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tiwari
mesh_terms: D016564:Amyloid beta-Protein Precursor / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000096:biosynthesis; D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D031254:Convolvulus; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D008297:Male; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018517:Plant Roots; D011897:Random Allocation; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012601:Scopolamine / Q000633:toxicity*; D016875:tau Proteins / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000096:biosynthesis
chemical_list: D016564:Amyloid beta-Protein Precursor; D010936:Plant Extracts; D016875:tau Proteins; D012601:Scopolamine
keywords: Alzheimer's disease; amyloid beta; amyloid precursor protein; scopolamine; tau