title: Protective effects of bajijiasu in a rat model of Aβ₂₅₋₃₅-induced neurotoxicity.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Neurodegenerative diseases (NDs) caused by neurons and/or myelin loss lead to devastating effects on patients׳ lives. Although the causes of such complex diseases have not yet been fully elucidated, oxidative stress, mitochondrial and energy metabolism dysfunction, excitotoxicity, inflammation, and apoptosis have been recognized as influential factors. Current therapies that were designed to address only a single target are unable to mitigate or prevent disease progression, and disease-modifying drugs are desperately needed, and Chinese herbs will be a good choice for screening the potential drugs. Previous studies have shown that bajijiasu, a dimeric fructose isolated from Morinda officinalis radix which was used frequently as a tonifying and replenishing natural herb medicine in traditional Chinese medicine clinic practice, can prevent ischemia-induced neuronal damage or death.
  
  
  METHODS
  In order to investigate whether bajijiasu protects against beta-amyloid (Aβ₂₅₋₃₅)-induced neurotoxicity in rats and explore the underlying mechanisms of bajijiasu in vivo, we prepared an Alzheimer׳s disease (AD) model by injecting Aβ25-35 into the bilateral CA1 region of rat hippocampus and treated a subset with oral bajijiasu. We observed the effects on learning and memory, antioxidant levels, energy metabolism, neurotransmitter levels, and neuronal apoptosis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Bajijiasu ameliorated Aβ-induced learning and memory dysfunction, enhanced antioxidative activity and energy metabolism, and attenuated cholinergic system damage. Our findings suggest that bajijiasu can enhance antioxidant capacity and prevent free radical damage. It can also enhance energy metabolism and monoamine neurotransmitter levels and inhibit neuronal apoptosis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results provide a scientific foundation for the use of Morinda officinalis and its constituents in the treatment of various AD. Future studies will assess the multi-target activity of the drug for the treatment of AD.
authors.affiliation: Southern Institute of Pharmaceutical Research, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510631, People׳s Republic of China.
authors.forename: Di-Ling
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: College of Chinese Materia Medical, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510006, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Peng
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: College of Chinese Materia Medical, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510006, People's Republic of China. Electronic address: ll76611@126.com.
authors.forename: Li
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.affiliation: Southern Institute of Pharmaceutical Research, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510631, People׳s Republic of China.
authors.forename: He-Ming
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: College of Chinese Materia Medical, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510006, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Shao-Dong
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Deng
authors.affiliation: College of Chinese Materia Medical, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510006, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Ze-Qing
authors.initials: ZQ
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.affiliation: College of Chinese Materia Medical, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510006, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Shuai
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ou
authors.affiliation: Southern Institute of Pharmaceutical Research, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510631, People׳s Republic of China.
authors.forename: Song-Hao
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: College of Chinese Materia Medical, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510006, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Jin-Yu
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D016229:Amyloid beta-Peptides; D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects; D015306:Biogenic Monoamines / Q000378:metabolism; D001921:Brain / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D002374:Catalase / Q000378:metabolism; D002452:Cell Count; D004187:Disaccharides / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use* / Q000633:toxicity; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005260:Female; D005979:Glutathione Peroxidase / Q000378:metabolism; D006897:Hydroxyindoleacetic Acid / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008315:Malondialdehyde / Q000378:metabolism; D018782:Maze Learning / Q000187:drug effects; D008568:Memory / Q000187:drug effects; D032066:Morinda; D009474:Neurons / Q000187:drug effects; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use* / Q000633:toxicity; D010446:Peptide Fragments; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000378:metabolism; D023382:Toxicity Tests, Acute
chemical_list: D016229:Amyloid beta-Peptides; D015306:Biogenic Monoamines; D004187:Disaccharides; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; D010446:Peptide Fragments; C074636:amyloid beta-protein (25-35); C000588575:fructofuranosyl-(2-2)-fructofuranosyl; D008315:Malondialdehyde; D006897:Hydroxyindoleacetic Acid; D002374:Catalase; D005979:Glutathione Peroxidase; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase
keywords: Acetylcholine (PubChem CID: 187); Alzheimer׳s disease; Apoptosis; Bajijiasu; Beta-amyloid (PubChem CID: 3407255); Dopamine hydrochloride (PubChem CID: 65340); Malondialdehyde (PubChem CID: 10964); Mechanism; Neurotoxicity; Norepinephrine bitartrate (PubChem CID: 297812); Serotonin (PubChem CID: 5202)