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Neuroprotective Effect of <i>Marrubium vulgare</i> Extract in Scopolamine-Induced Cognitive Impairment in Rats: Behavioral and Biochemical Approaches
oleh: Maria Lazarova, Miroslava Stefanova, Petko Denev, Teodora Taseva, Valya Vassileva, Krasimira Tasheva
| Format: | Article |
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| Diterbitkan: | MDPI AG 2024-06-01 |
Deskripsi
The potential of <i>Marrubium vulgare</i> to alleviate scopolamine (Sco)-induced deficits in spatial working memory has drawn considerable scientific interest. This effect is partly attributed to its potent antioxidant and acetylcholinesterase inhibitory (AChEI) activities. This study examined the effects of <i>M. vulgare</i> extract, standardized to marrubiin content, on recognition memory in healthy and Sco-treated rats. Male Wistar rats (200–250 g) were divided into four groups. The extract was orally administered for 21 days and Sco (2 mg/kg) was intraperitoneally injected for 11 consecutive days. Memory performance was assessed using the novel object recognition test. Levels of acetylcholine (ACh), noradrenaline (NA), serotonin (Sero), and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and the phosphorylation of cAMP response element-binding protein (p-CREB) were evaluated in the cortex and hippocampus via ELISA. <i>BDNF</i> and <i>CREB</i> expression levels were assessed using RT-PCR. The results showed that <i>M. vulgare</i> significantly alleviated Sco-induced memory impairment, preserved cholinergic function in the hippocampus, increased NA levels in the brain, and restored pCREB expression in the cortex following Sco-induced reduction. In healthy rats, the extract upregulated <i>BDNF</i>, <i>pCREB,</i> and <i>Bcl2</i> expression. Our findings indicate that the neuroprotective effects of <i>M. vulgare</i> may be linked to the modulation of cholinergic function, regulation of NA neurotransmission, and influence on key memory-related molecules.