title: Rosmarinic Acid Alleviates Neurological Symptoms in the G93A-SOD1 Transgenic Mouse Model of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis.
abstract: Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a neurodegenerative disease that affects motor neurons in the brain and spinal cord, resulting in paralysis of voluntary skeletal muscles and eventually death, usually within 2~3 years of symptom onset. The pathophysiology mechanism underlying ALS is not yet clearly understood. Moreover the available medication for treating ALS, riluzole, only modestly improves neurological symptoms and increases survival by a few months. Therefore, improved therapeutic strategies are urgently needed. In the present study, we investigated whether rosmarinic acid has a therapeutic potential to alleviate neurological deterioration in the G93A-SOD1 transgenic mouse model of ALS. Treatment of G93A-SOD1 transgenic mice with rosmarinic acid from 7 weeks of age at the dose of 400 mg/kg/day significantly extended survival, and relieved motor function deficits. Specifically, disease onset and symptom progression were delayed by more than one month. These symptomatic improvements were correlated with decreased oxidative stress and reduced neuronal loss in the ventral horns of G93A-SOD1 mice. These results support that rosmarinic acid is a potentially useful supplement for relieving ALS symptoms.
authors.affiliation: Department of Brain & Cognitive Sciences, Ewha Womans University, Seoul 03760, Korea.
authors.forename: Ji-Seon
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Seo
authors.affiliation: Department of Brain & Cognitive Sciences, Ewha Womans University, Seoul 03760, Korea.
authors.forename: Juli
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry & Nano Science, Ewha Womans University, Seoul 03760, Korea. ; Brain Disease Research Institute, Ewha Womans University, Seoul 03760, Korea.
authors.forename: Yea-Hyun
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Leem
authors.affiliation: Department of Brain & Cognitive Sciences, Ewha Womans University, Seoul 03760, Korea. ; Department of Chemistry & Nano Science, Ewha Womans University, Seoul 03760, Korea. ; Brain Disease Research Institute, Ewha Womans University, Seoul 03760, Korea.
authors.forename: Pyung-Lim
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: Han
keywords: ALS; Rosmarinic acid; antioxidant; neuroprotection