Mediterranean natural extracts improved cognitive behavior in zebrafish and healthy rats and ameliorated lps-induced cognitive impairment in a sex dependent manner

Abstract

Background Several findings suggest neuroinflammation as a contributing factor for the onset of psychiatric disorders such as Alzheimer’s disease, depression, and anxiety. There is increasing evidence pointing out that the Mediterranean diet influences brain and behavior. Mediterranean herbs and spices have been shown to be within those components of the Mediterranean diet involved in cognitive enhancement. Thus, we investigated the influence of Mediterranean natural extracts (MNE), Rosemary extract (RE) and Glycyrrhiza glabra root extract (GGRE), on cognitive behavior. Results Adult zebrafish were exposed to RE or GGRE (100 and 250 mg/L) treatments. Both MNE improved memory retention during the T-maze test, although no improvements were observed during the novel object preference. Similarly, chronic administration of RE (150 mg/Kg) and GGRE (150 mg/Kg) improved, respectively, spatial and retention memory, as assessed by the Morris Water Maze (MWM), and the Elevated Plus Maze (EPM) in healthy male rats. However, no improvements were observed during the novel object recognition. Finally, male, and female rats were chronically treated with lipopolysaccharide [(LPS) 300 ug/kg] and orally administered with RE. Interestingly, RE reversed LPS-induced cognitive deficit during the MWM and EPM in female rats. Conclusions We found that MNE improved cognition in both zebrafish and rats. Moreover, MNE rescued LPS-induced cognitive impairment in a gender-specific manner. Therefore, our study supports the view that zebrafish represent a valuable preclinical model for drug discovery in neuroscience. These findings contribute to an exciting and growing body of research suggesting that MNE may play an important role in the prevention of cognitive impairment.

Laurel Attenuates Dexamethasone-Induced Skeletal Muscle Atrophy In Vitro and in a Rat Model

“…Spices and herbs are widely used in cooking and are reported to contain many bioactive substances, which exert several beneficial effects including anti-inflammatory, cognitive enhancement, and anti-cancerous properties [ 16 , 17 ]. It was previously reported that transient receptor potential vanilloid type 1 (TRPV1) promotes the process of muscle hypertrophy, especially induced by skeletal muscle overload and/or exercise [ 18 ].…”

Teleosts as behaviour test models for social stress

“…Contact is seen as “butting” or “biting” the fish’s own reflection on the mirror. Pusceddu et al (2022) explained that the test can be performed in two ways with slight differences, (1) putting in a mirror into an occupied tank, or (2) adding in the test fish into a tank with an already attached mirror. The first method may trigger the zebrafish’s defences of an ‘intruder’ into its space, while the second method tests novelty towards both the mirror and tank.…”

“…Essentially, a large tank is used and divided into smaller chambers of the same size, separated by removable, transparent barriers. According to Pusceddu et al (2022) , these chambers can be designated as conspecific chamber, conspecific arm, middle chamber, empty arm, and empty chamber. Conspecific fish, as a shoal or just a singular fish, act as social stimulus and are placed into the conspecific chamber.…”

Zebrafish: A Pharmacological Model for Learning and Memory Research

“…Healthy and cognitively unimpaired zebrafish are models for screening compounds or conditions with memory enhancement (nootropic) properties [ 46 , 84 , 85 , 86 , 87 , 88 , 89 , 90 ] ( Supplementary Table S2 ). Yoo et al used zebrafish to screen for the nootropic effect of UTI [ 90 ].…”

“…The cognitive enhancement properties of UTI were related to the up-regulation of the protein level of EET4A glutamate receptor, and gene expressions of c-fos and bdnf in the zebrafish brain. Pusceddu et al utilized zebrafish to evaluate the chronic effects of Mediterranean natural extracts, namely licorice ( Glycyrrhiza glabra ) root extract and rosemary extract, on cognitive functions [ 86 ]. Both extracts at lower concentrations (100 mg/L) improved the retention memory in the T-maze but induced off-target activity at higher concentrations (250 mg/L).…”