title: Neuroprotective Effects of Herbal Extract (Rosa canina, Tanacetum vulgare and Urtica dioica) on Rat Model of Sporadic Alzheimer's Disease.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Sporadic Alzheimer's Disease (SAD) is caused by genetic risk factors, aging and oxidative stresses. The herbal extract of Rosa canina (R. canina), Tanacetum vulgare (T. vulgare) and Urtica dioica (U. dioica) has a beneficial role in aging, as an anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidative agent. In this study, the neuroprotective effects of this herbal extract in the rat model of SAD was investigated.
  
  
  METHODS
  The rats were divided into control, sham, model, herbal extract -treated and ethanol-treated groups. Drug interventions were started on the 21(st) day after modeling and each treatment group was given the drugs by intraperitoneal (I.P.) route for 21 days. The expression levels of the five important genes for pathogenesis of SAD including Syp, Psen1, Mapk3, Map2 and Tnf-α were measured by qPCR between the hippocampi of SAD model which were treated by this herbal extract and control groups. The Morris Water Maze was adapted to test spatial learning and memory ability of the rats.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Treatment of the rat model of SAD with herbal extract induced a significant change in expression of Syp (p=0.001) and Psen1 (p=0.029). In Morris Water Maze, significant changes in spatial learning seen in the rat model group were improved in herbal-treated group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This herbal extract could have anti-dementia properties and improve spatial learning and memory in SAD rat model.
authors: Genetic Research Center, University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors: Parvaneh
authors: P
authors: Daneshmand
authors: Reproductive Biotechnology Research Center, Avicenna Research Institute, ACECR, Tehran, Iran.
authors: Kioomars
authors: K
authors: Saliminejad
authors: Laboratory of Neuro-organic Chemistry, Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics (IBB), University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran.
authors: Marzieh
authors: M
authors: Dehghan Shasaltaneh
authors: Reproductive Biotechnology Research Center, Avicenna Research Institute, ACECR, Tehran, Iran.
authors: Koorosh
authors: K
authors: Kamali
authors: Laboratory of Neuro-organic Chemistry, Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics (IBB), University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran.
authors: Gholam Hossein
authors: GH
authors: Riazi
authors: Laboratory of Neuro-organic Chemistry, Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics (IBB), University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran.
authors: Reza
authors: R
authors: Nazari
authors: Basic and Molecular Epidemiology of Gastrointestinal Disorders Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors: Pedram
authors: P
authors: Azimzadeh
authors: Genetic Research Center, University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors: Hamid Reza
authors: HR
authors: Khorram Khorshid
keywords: Alzheimer disease; Gene expression; Herbal extract