title: Cassia obtusifolia seed ameliorates amyloid β-induced synaptic dysfunction through anti-inflammatory and Akt/GSK-3β pathways.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Tea infused with the seed of Cassia obtusifolia has been traditionally used as an herbal remedy for liver, eye, and acute inflammatory diseases. Recent pharmacological reports have indicated that Cassiae semen has neuroprotective effects, attributable to its anti-inflammatory actions, in ischemic stroke and Parkinson's disease models.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  Previously, the ethanol extract of C. obtusifolia seeds (COE) was reported to have memory enhancing properties. However, the effects of COE in an Alzheimer's disease (AD) model are currently unknown. In this study, we investigated the effect(s) of COE on aberrant synaptic plasticity and memory impairment induced by amyloid β (Aβ), a key toxic component found in the AD brain.
  
  
  METHODS
  To determine the effect of COE on Aβ-induced aberrant synaptic plasticity, we used acute mouse hippocampal slices and delivered theta burst stimulation to induce long-term potentiation (LTP). Western blots were used to detect Aβ- and/or COE-induced changes in signaling proteins. The novel object location recognition test was conducted to determine the effect of COE on Aβ-induced recognition memory impairment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  COE was found to ameliorate Aβ-induced LTP impairment in the acute hippocampal slices. Glycogen synthase kinase-3β (GSK-3β), a key molecule in LTP impairment, was activated by Aβ. However, this process was inhibited by COE via Akt signaling. Moreover, COE was found to attenuate Aβ-induced microglia, inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), and cyclooxygenase (COX) activation. In the in vivo studies performed, COE ameliorated the Aβ-induced object recognition memory impairment.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results suggest that COE exhibits neuroprotective activities against Aβ-induced brain disorders.
authors.affiliation: School of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK. Electronic address: JeeHyun.Yi@bristol.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Jee Hyun
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Yi
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicinal Biotechnology, College of Health Sciences, Dong-A University, Busan 604-714, Republic of Korea; Institute of Convergence Bio-Health, Dong-A University, Busan 604-714, Republic of Korea. Electronic address: qkrgpwls0523@naver.com.
authors.forename: Hey Jin
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Park
authors.affiliation: Department of Aquatic Biomedical Sciences, School of Marine Biomedical Science, College of Ocean Science, Jeju National University, Jeju 690-756, Republic of Korea. Electronic address: slee76@jejunu.ac.kr.
authors.forename: Seungheon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Herbal Medicinal Pharmacology, College of Herbal Bio-industry, Daegu Haany University, Kyungsan 712-715, Republic of Korea. Electronic address: jwjung@dhu.ac.kr.
authors.forename: Ji Wook
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Jung
authors.affiliation: Chonnam-Bristol Frontier Laboratory, Biomedical Research Institute, Chonnam National University Hospital, Jebong-ro, Gwangju 501-757, Republic of Korea. Electronic address: byeong.kim@jnu.ac.kr.
authors.forename: Byeong C
authors.initials: BC
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicinal Biotechnology, College of Health Sciences, Dong-A University, Busan 604-714, Republic of Korea; Institute of Convergence Bio-Health, Dong-A University, Busan 604-714, Republic of Korea. Electronic address: yclee@dau.ac.kr.
authors.forename: Young Choon
authors.initials: YC
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Life and Nanopharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, Kyung Hee University, Seoul 130-701, Republic of Korea; Department of Oriental Pharmaceutical Science, College of Pharmacy, Kyung Hee University, Seoul 130-701, Republic of Korea. Electronic address: jhryu63@khu.ac.kr.
authors.forename: Jong Hoon
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Ryu
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicinal Biotechnology, College of Health Sciences, Dong-A University, Busan 604-714, Republic of Korea; Institute of Convergence Bio-Health, Dong-A University, Busan 604-714, Republic of Korea. Electronic address: mose79@dau.ac.kr.
authors.forename: Dong Hyun
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Kim
mesh_terms: D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism; D016229:Amyloid beta-Peptides / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002366:Cassia / Q000737:chemistry*; D023902:Chromosome Pairing / Q000187:drug effects*; D038362:Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3 / Q000378:metabolism*; D000071679:Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3 beta; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D017774:Long-Term Potentiation / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D008568:Memory / Q000187:drug effects; D008569:Memory Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D051057:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt / Q000378:metabolism*; D012639:Seeds / Q000737:chemistry*; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D016229:Amyloid beta-Peptides; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; D000071679:Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3 beta; C000605507:Gsk3b protein, mouse; D051057:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt; D038362:Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3
keywords: Amyloid beta; Cassia obtusifolia seeds; Long-term potentiation; Recognition memory