Neuroprotective effects of Triticum aestivum L. against β-Amyloid-induced cell death and memory impairments

• Published in: Phytotherapy research Vol. 24; no. 1; pp. 76 - 84
• Main Authors: Jang, Jung-Hee, Kim, Chang-Yul, Lim, Sun Ha, Yang, Chae Ha, Song, Kyung-Sik, Han, Hyung Soo, Lee, Hyeong-Kyu, Lee, Jongwon
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Chichester, UK John Wiley & Sons, Ltd 2010; Wiley
• Subjects: Amyloid beta-Peptides - adverse effects; Animals; Apoptosis; Biological and medical sciences; Cell Death - drug effects; Cell Line; General pharmacology; Glutathione - metabolism; Male; Medical sciences; memory; Memory Disorders - drug therapy; Neuroprotective Agents - pharmacology; oxidative stress; Oxidative Stress - drug effects; Pharmacognosy. Homeopathy. Health food; Pharmacology. Drug treatments; Plant Extracts - pharmacology; Rats; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Reactive Oxygen Species - metabolism; scopolamine; Triticum - chemistry; Triticum aestivum L; β-amyloid; Neuroprotection; Oxidative stress; Memory disorder; Monocotyledones; Cognitive disorder; Memory; Cereal crop; Medicinal plant; Alkaloid; Gramineae; Angiospermae; Amyloid; β Cell; β-amyloid; Hyoscine; scopolamine: Triticum aestivum L; Pharmacognosy; Glycoprotein; Protein; Anticholinergic agent; Cell death; Plant origin; Spermatophyta; Triticum aestivum; Apoptosis
• ISSN: 0951-418X; 1099-1573
• DOI: 10.1002/ptr.2871

β-Amyloid (Aβ) is a key component of senile plaques, neuropathological hallmarks of Alzheimer's disease (AD) and has been reported to induce cell death via oxidative stress. This study investigated the protective effects of Triticum aestivum L. (TAL) on Aβ-induced apoptosis in SH-SY5Y cells and cognitive dysfunctions in Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats. Cells treated with Aβ exhibited decreased viability and apoptotic features, such as DNA fragmentation, alterations in mitochondria and an increased Bax/Bcl-2 ratio, which were attenuated by TAL extract (TALE) pretreatment. To elucidate the neuroprotective mechanisms of TALE, the study examined Aβ-induced oxidative stress and cellular defense. TALE pretreatment suppressed Aβ-increased intracellular accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) via up-regulation of glutathione, an essential endogenous antioxidant. To further verify the effect of TALE on memory impairments, Aβ or scopolamine was injected in SD rats and a water maze task conducted as a spatial memory test. Aβ or scopolamine treatment increased the time taken to find the platform during training trials, which was decreased by TALE pretreatment. Furthermore, one of the active components of TALE, total dietary fiber also effectively inhibited Aβ-induced cytotoxicity and scopolamine-caused memory deficits. These results suggest that TALE may have preventive and/or therapeutic potential in the management of AD. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.