title: Protective Roles of Monsonia angustifolia and Its Active Compounds in Experimental Models of Alzheimer's Disease.
abstract: Alzheimer's disease (AD), a progressive neurodegenerative disorder, is characterized by the accumulation of neurotoxic β-amyloid (Aβ) peptides, which consequently affects cognitive decline and memory impairment. Current research on AD treatment is actively focusing on the prevention of neurotoxic Aβ peptide accumulation. Monsonia angustifolia is reported to be consumed as an indigenous vegetable in Tanzania. In this study, we investigated the effect of the ethanol (EtOH) extract of M. angustifolia dried ground material on Aβ production and spatial learning ability as protection against AD. The formation of Aβ peptides was significantly reduced in HeLa cells stably transfected with the Swedish mutant form of β-amyloid precursor protein (APPsw) after treatment with a 60% EtOH extract of M. angustifolia. We next examined the cognitive-improving effects of the EtOH extract in vivo. Tg2576 mice were treated with extract for 6 months and subjected to Morris water maze and novel object recognition tests. The results showed that the 60% EtOH extract of M. angustifolia significantly ameliorated behavioral deficits of the AD transgenic mice and reduced the level of insoluble Aβ42 in the cerebral cortex and hippocampus. We further found that the 60% EtOH extract was effective for memory function recovery after shorter treatment (4 months). In addition, we isolated and identified several single compounds, justicidin A, 5-methoxyjusticidin A, chinensinaphthol, retrochinensinaphthol methyl ether, and suchilactone, from M. angustifolia and tested these compounds. Among them, justicidin A potently decreased the formation of Aβ in APPsw-transfected cells. These data suggest that the 60% EtOH extract of M. angustifolia has the potential to be developed as a treatment of AD. Furthermore, justicidin A may contribute, at least partially, to the Aβ alteration observed with the extract treatment.
authors.affiliation: Natural Products Research Center, Korea Institute of Science and Technology , Gangneung, Gangwon-do, Republic of Korea.|Department of Physiology, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine , Suwon, Gyeonggi-do, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Yoon Sun
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Chun
authors.affiliation: Natural Products Research Center, Korea Institute of Science and Technology , Gangneung, Gangwon-do, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Joonki
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine , Suwon, Gyeonggi-do, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Sungkwon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Chung
authors.affiliation: Council for Scientific and Industrial Research , Pretoria, South Africa.
authors.forename: Eric
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Khorombi
authors.affiliation: Council for Scientific and Industrial Research , Pretoria, South Africa.
authors.forename: Dashnie
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Naidoo
authors.affiliation: Council for Scientific and Industrial Research , Pretoria, South Africa.
authors.forename: Rudzani
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Nthambeleni
authors.affiliation: Council for Scientific and Industrial Research , Pretoria, South Africa.
authors.forename: Nial
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Harding
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, University of Pretoria , Private Bag X20, Hatfield 0028, Pretoria, South Africa.
authors.forename: Vinesh
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Maharaj
authors.affiliation: Council for Scientific and Industrial Research , Pretoria, South Africa.
authors.forename: Gerda
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Fouche
authors.affiliation: Natural Products Research Center, Korea Institute of Science and Technology , Gangneung, Gangwon-do, Republic of Korea.|Department of Biological Chemistry, University of Science & Technology (UST) , Daejeon, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Hyun Ok
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0003-1604-0843
authors.initials: HO
authors.lastname: Yang
mesh_terms: D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000378:metabolism / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000523:psychology; D016229:Amyloid beta-Peptides / Q000378:metabolism; D016564:Amyloid beta-Protein Precursor / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D003071:Cognition / Q000187:drug effects; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D031314:Geraniaceae / Q000737:chemistry*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008568:Memory / Q000187:drug effects; D051379:Mice; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D016229:Amyloid beta-Peptides; D016564:Amyloid beta-Protein Precursor; D010936:Plant Extracts
keywords: Alzheimer’s disease; Monsonia angustifolia; cognition-improving effect; justicidin A; β-amyloid