Rubus fruticosus leaf extract inhibits vascular dementia-induced memory impairment and neuronal loss by attenuating neuroinf lammation

• Published in: Anatomy & cell biology pp. 494 - 507
• Main Authors: Nak Song Sung, Sun Ho Uhm, Hyun Bae Kang, 이남섭, Young-Gil Jeong, Do Kyung Kim, 성낙윤, Dong-Sub Kim, Young Choon Yoo, Seung Yun Han
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 대한해부학회 01.12.2023
• Subjects: 해부학
• ISSN: 2093-3665; 2093-3673
• DOI: 10.5115/acb.23.195

Vascular dementia (VaD) is characterized by progressive memory impairment, which is associated with microglia-mediated neuroinf lammation. Polyphenol-rich natural plants, which possess anti-inf lammatory activities, have attractedscientific interest worldwide. This study investigated whether Rubus fruticosus leaf extract (RFLE) can attenuate VaD. Sprague–Dawley rats were separated into five groups: SO, sham-operated and treated with vehicle; OP, operated and treatedwith vehicle; RFLE-L, operated and treated with low dose (30 mg/kg) of RFLE; RFLE-M, operated and treated with mediumdose (60 mg/kg) of RFLE; and RFLE-H, operated and treated with high dose (90 mg/kg) of RFLE. Bilateral commoncarotid artery and hypotension were used as a modeling procedure, and the RFLE were intraorally administered for 5 days(preoperative 2 and postoperative 3 days). The rats then underwent memory tests including the novel object recognition,Y-maze, Barnes maze, and passive avoidance tests, and neuronal viability and neuroinf lammation were quantified intheir hippocampi. The results showed that the OP group exhibited VaD-associated memory deficits, neuronal death, andmicroglial activation in hippocampi, while the RFLE-treated groups showed significant attenuation in all above parameters. Next, using BV-2 microglial cells challenged with lipopolysaccharide (LPS), we evaluated the effects of RFLE in dynamics ofproinf lammatory mediators and the upstream signaling pathway. RFLE pretreatment significantly inhibited the LPS-inducedrelease of nitric oxide, TNF-α, and IL-6 and upregulation of the MAPKs/NF-κB/iNOS pathway. Collectively, we suggest thatRFLE can attenuate the histologic alterations and memory deficits accompanied by VaD, and these roles are, partly due to theattenuation of microglial activation. KCI Citation Count: 0