Essential oils from two Allium species exert effects on cell proliferation and neuroblast differentiation in the mouse dentate gyrus by modulating brain-derived neurotrophic factor and acetylcholinesterase.
BACKGROUND
In the present study, we investigated the effects of oil products from two Allium species: Allium sativum (garlic) and Allium hookeri (Chinese chives) on cell proliferation and neuroblast differentiation in the mouse dentate gyrus.


METHODS
Using corn oil as a vehicle, the essential oil from garlic (10 ml/kg), or Chinese chives (10 ml/kg) was administered orally to 9-week-old mice once a day for 3 weeks. One hour following the last treatment, a novel object recognition test was conducted and the animals were killed 2 h after the test.


RESULTS
In comparison to the vehicle-treated group, garlic essential oil (GO) treatment resulted in significantly increased exploration time and discrimination index during the novel object recognition test, while Chinese chives essential oil (CO) reduced the exploration time and discrimination index in the same test. In addition, the number of Ki67-immunoreactive proliferating cells and doublecortin-immunoreactive neuroblasts significantly increased in the dentate gyrus of GO-treated animals. However, administration of CO significantly decreased cell proliferation and neuroblast differentiation. Administration of GO significantly increased brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) levels and decreased acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity in the hippocampal homogenates. In contrast, administration of CO decreased BDNF protein levels and had no significant effect on AChE activity, compared to that in the vehicle-treated group.


CONCLUSIONS
These results suggest that GO significantly improves novel object recognition as well as increases cell proliferation and neuroblast differentiation, by modulating hippocampal BDNF protein levels and AChE activity, while CO impairs novel object recognition and decreases cell proliferation and neuroblast differentiation, by reducing BDNF protein levels in the hippocampus.
Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Research Institute for Veterinary Science, Seoul National University, Seoul, 08826, South Korea.
Hyo Young
HY
Jung
Department of Anatomy, College of Veterinary Medicine and Institute of Veterinary Science, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon, 24341, South Korea.
Kwon Young
KY
Lee
Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Research Institute for Veterinary Science, Seoul National University, Seoul, 08826, South Korea.
Dae Young
DY
Yoo
Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Research Institute for Veterinary Science, Seoul National University, Seoul, 08826, South Korea.
Jong Whi
JW
Kim
Food Analysis Center, Korea Food Research Institute, Sungnam, 13539, South Korea.
Miyoung
M
Yoo
Food Analysis Center, Korea Food Research Institute, Sungnam, 13539, South Korea.
Sanghee
S
Lee
Department of Oral Anatomy, Research Institute of Oral Sciences, College of Dentistry, Gangneung-Wonju National University, Gangneung, 25457, South Korea.
Ki-Yeon
KY
Yoo
Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Research Institute for Veterinary Science, Seoul National University, Seoul, 08826, South Korea.
Yeo Sung
YS
Yoon
Department of Anatomy, College of Veterinary Medicine and Institute of Veterinary Science, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon, 24341, South Korea. jhchoi@kangwon.ac.kr.
Jung Hoon
JH
Choi
Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Research Institute for Veterinary Science, Seoul National University, Seoul, 08826, South Korea. vetmed2@snu.ac.kr.
In Koo
http://orcid.org/0000-0002-0533-4638
IK
Hwang
D000110:Acetylcholinesterase / Q000378:metabolism*; D000490:Allium / Q000737:chemistry*; D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects; D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor / Q000378:metabolism*; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000187:drug effects*; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D018891:Dentate Gyrus / Q000737:chemistry / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects*; D005106:Exploratory Behavior / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D009822:Oils, Volatile / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology*
D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor; D009822:Oils, Volatile; D010936:Plant Extracts; D000110:Acetylcholinesterase
Acetylcholinesterase; Brain-derived neurotrophic factor; Chive; Garlic; Neurogenesis