Low Dose Teucrium Polium Hydro-Alcoholic Extract Treatment Effects on Spatial Memory and Hippocampal Neuronal Count of Rat Aβ25-35 Model of Alzheimer’s Disease

Abstract

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a multifactorial and debilitating condition without precise etiology and definite cure burdened with high monetary and human resources to the society around the globe. Given that Iranian traditional medicine has a valuable treasure of medicinal plants with multi-dimensional effects, we designed this study to examine one week daily low single-dose treatment protocol of 3 mg/kg Teucrium polium (TP) hydro-alcoholic extract effects on rat's spatial memory performance and CA1 hippocampal neuronal count in rat Aβ25-35 as an AD model. Animals were bilaterally microinjected with single 10 µg/2 µg intrahippocampal Aβ25-35 fragment for the AD induction. After a two-week recovery period, daily intraperitoneal injection of TP for a week was initiated in Aβ-received TP-treated (treated) and TP-received animals (control). Spatial memory performance and CA1 neuronal count were evaluated. TP significantly reduced time latency and distance swum during the first three days of the training protocol compared with Aβ-received rats (sham). Probe reference test findings, however, were not statistically different in treated, sham, and control groups. Intact CA1 hippocampal neuronal count showed a significant increase in Aβ-received TP-treated (case) rats in comparison with Aβ-received (sham) animals. It seems that the least reported low dose TP has the active chemical components capable of memory enhancing effects in Morris water maze (MWM) setting and potential neuronal survival property in hippocampal tissue. In spite of myriad claims against TP use, we should reconsider the matter and do more research to find the exact active ingredients of various species of the plant plus possible underlying mechanisms for ensuring potential use for human clinical trials in AD and other central nervous system-related diseases.

Traditional uses, phytochemistry, and toxic potential of Teucrium polium L.: A comprehensive review

“…(Alzweiri et al, 2011;Bahramikia and Yazdanparast, 2012;Ben Othman et al, 2017;De Martino et al, 2010;Khaled-Khodja et al, 2014;Mashreghi and Niknia, 2012;Menichini et al, 2009;Rad et al, 2014) Anorexia Aerial parts Infusion Not specified (Alzweiri et al, 2011;Bahramikia and Yazdanparast, 2012;Ben Othman et al, 2017;De Martino et al, 2010;Khaled-Khodja et al, 2014;Mashreghi and Niknia, 2012;Menichini et al, 2009;Rad et al, 2014) Anti-cancer Aerial parts Infusion Aerial parts are crushed and prepared as herbal tea. (Alachkar et al, 2011;Farahmandfar et al, 2019) Anti-convulsant Not specified Not specified Not specified (Abadian et al, 2016;Amraei et al, 2018b;Ghasemi et al, 2019a;Ghasemi et al, 2019b;Hasani-Ranjbar et al, 2010;Khoshnood-Mansoorkhani et al, 2010;Pesaraklu et al, 2011;Rad et al, 2014;Rezvannejad et al, 2019) Anti-diabetic, insulinotropic Aerial parts, stems Infusion, decoction -Aerial parts are crushed and prepared as tea.…”

“…-One teacup herbal tea is drunk two times a day for a 1-2 weeks. (Aburjai et al, 2006;Afifi et al, 2005;Akgul et al, 2018;Al-Qudah et al, 2011;Al-Tikriti et al, 2017;Alachkar et al, 2011;Alamdar et al, 2007;Alzweiri et al, 2011;Amini et al, 2009;Amraei et al, 2018b;Arasan and Kaya, 2015;Ardestani and Yazdanparast, 2007;Bahramikia et al, 2009;Yazdanparast, 2011, 2012;Baradaran et al, 2013;Bedir et al, 1999;Ben Othman et al, 2017;Bendif et al, 2018;Boghrati et al, 2016;Boulila et al, 2008;Bozov and Penchev, 2019;Chitturi and Farrell, 2008;Coban et al, 2003;Dababneh, 2008;Dag et al, 2014a;Dag et al, 2014b;Darwish and Aburjai, 2010;De Martino et al, 2010;El Atki et al, 2019a;El Atki et al, 2019b;Elmasri et al, 2014;Esmaeili and Yazdanparast, 2004;Farahmandfar et al, 2019;Ghasemi et al, 2019a;Ghasemi et al, 2019b;Grubesic et al, 2012;Hachicha et al, 2009;Hasani-Ranjbar et al, 2010;Hayta et al, 2014;…”

“…-Infusion of the leaves and flowers is consumed as herbal tea. (Akgul et al, 2018;Amraei et al, 2018b;Baali et al, 2016;Ghasemi et al, 2019a;Ghasemi et al, 2019b;Jaradat et al, 2016;Krishnaiah et al, 2011;Pesaraklu et al, 2011;Rezvannejad et al, 2019;Tuncturk et al, 2019) Anti-hemorroidal Aerial parts Infusion, decoction -Dried and crushed aerial parts are used internally or externally. In the case internal use, the powdered material can be mixed to honey.…”

“…( Abadian et al, 2016;Abdollahi et al, 2003;Aburjai et al, 2006;Afifi et al, 2005;Akgul et al, 2018;Al-Qudah et al, 2011;Al-Tikriti et al, 2017;Alachkar et al, 2011;Alamdar et al, 2007;Alzweiri et al, 2011;Ardestani and Yazdanparast, 2007;Baali et al, 2016;Bahramikia et al, 2009;Yazdanparast, 2011, 2012;Bakari et al, 2015;Baradaran et al, 2013;Ben Othman et al, 2017;Bendif et al, 2018;Boghrati et al, 2016;Bozov and Penchev, 2019;Dababneh, 2008;Dag et al, 2014a;Dag et al, 2014b;Darwish and Aburjai, 2010;Elmasri et al, 2014;Farahmandfar et al, 2019;Forouzandeh et al, 2013;Ghasemi et al, 2019a;Ghasemi et al, 2019b;Grubesic et al, 2012;Gunes et al, 2017;Hachicha et al, 2009;Hasani-Ranjbar et al, 2010;Huseini et al, 2019;Kandouz et al, 2010;Kerbouche et al, 2015;Khaled-Khodja et al, 2014;Khazaei et al, 2018;Khodadadi et al, 2018;Khoshnood-Mansoorkhani et al, 2010;…”

“…Not specified Not specified (Ghasemi et al, 2019a;Ghasemi et al, 2019b;Hasanein and Shahidi, 2012;Milosevic-Djordjevic et al, 2018;Orhan and Aslan, 2009;Simonyan and Chavushyan, 2015)…”