title: Ameliorating effects of aged garlic extracts against Aβ-induced neurotoxicity and cognitive impairment.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In vitro antioxidant activities and neuron-like PC12 cell protective effects of solvent fractions from aged garlic extracts were investigated to evaluate their anti-amnesic functions. Ethyl acetate fractions of aged garlic had higher total phenolics than other fractions.
  
  
  METHODS
  Antioxidant activities of ethyl acetate fractions from aged garlic were examined using 2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) diammonium salt (ABTS) and malondialdehyde (MDA) inhibitory effect using mouse whole brain homogenates. Levels of cellular oxidative stress as reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation were measured using 2',7'-dichlorofluorescein diacetate (DCF-DA). PC12 cell viability was investigated by 3-[4,5-dimethythiazol-2-yl]-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide (MTT) and lactate dehydtrogenase (LDH) assay. The learning and memory impairment in institute of cancer research (ICR) mice was induced by neurotoxic amyloid beta protein (Aβ) to investigate in vivo anti-amnesic effects of aged garlic extracts by using Y-maze and passive avoidance tests.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We discovered that ethyl acetate fractions showed the highest ABTS radical scavenging activity and MDA inhibitory effect. Intracellular ROS accumulation resulting from Aβ treatment in PC12 cells was significantly reduced when ethyl acetate fractions were presented in the medium compare to PC12 cells which was only treated with Aβ only. Ethyl acetate fractions from aged garlic extracts showed protection against Aβ-induced neurotoxicity. Pre-administration with aged garlic extracts attenuated Aβ-induced learning and memory deficits in both in vivo tests.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our findings suggest that aged garlic extracts with antioxidant activities may improve cognitive impairment against Aβ-induced neuronal deficit, and possess a wide range of beneficial activities for neurodegenerative disorders, notably Alzheimer's disease (AD).
authors.forename: Ji Hee
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Jeong
authors.forename: Hee Rok
authors.initials: HR
authors.lastname: Jeong
authors.forename: Yu Na
authors.initials: YN
authors.lastname: Jo
authors.forename: Hyeon Ju
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Jeong Hae
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Shin
authors.affiliation: Division of Applied Life Science, Institute of Agriculture and Life Science, Gyeongsang National University, Jinju 660-701, Korea. hjher@gnu.ac.kr.
authors.forename: Ho Jin
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Heo
mesh_terms: D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology; D016229:Amyloid beta-Peptides / Q000633:toxicity*; D000818:Animals; D002470:Cell Survival; D003071:Cognition / Q000187:drug effects*; D005737:Garlic / Q000737:chemistry*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008315:Malondialdehyde / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D008813:Mice, Inbred ICR; D009474:Neurons / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects; D016716:PC12 Cells; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D051381:Rats; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D016229:Amyloid beta-Peptides; D010936:Plant Extracts; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D008315:Malondialdehyde