The Polyherbal Functional Ingredient Containing Ginger, Chinese Date, and Wood Ear Mushroom Protects against Dementia following Metabolic Syndrome

Abstract

The anti-dementia effect following ischemic stroke with metabolic syndrome (MetS) of the polyherbal functional ingredient comprising ginger, Chinese date, and wood ear mushroom (GCJ) was hypothesized due to its neuroprotective effect against stroke. This study was performed to test this hypothesis and to explore the underlying mechanism. Male Wistar rats weighing 180-220 g were induced metabolic syndrome (MetS) with a 16-week high-carbohydrate high-fat diet (HCHF) feeding. The rats with MetS characteristics were orally administered GCJ at various doses (GCJ100, GCJ200, and GCJ300 mg kg-1 BW) 21 days pre-induction and 21 days post-induction of reperfusion injury (I/R) at the right middle cerebral artery (MCAO). Memory was evaluated every 7 days during the study period. At the end of the study, neuron density, AChE activity, and the expressions of eNOS, BDNF, and pERK/ERK in the prefrontal cortex, and hippocampus were also determined. MetS rats with GCJ treatment improved memory impairment, enhanced neuron density, and increased the expressions of eNOS, BDNF, and pERK/ERK but suppressed AChE in both areas. Therefore, the anti-dementia effect following ischemic stroke with metabolic syndrome of GCJ may involve the improvement of AChE, eNOS, BDNF, pERK/ERK, and neural plasticity. However, this required confirmation by clinical study.

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“…Escape latency, or the time that each rat spent locating the immersed platform, was recorded. The same test was carried out 24 h later, and the time each rat spent in the quadrant to reach the previously located immersed platform or retention memory was also recorded [ 27 ].…”

“…The time a rat took to explore a novel object was recorded at 0.5, 1, and 6 h after the substance administration was recorded. The discrimination index (DI) was calculated using the following equation [ 27 ]. DI = (Novel Object Exploration Time/Total Exploration Time) − (Familiar Object Exploration Time/Total Exploration Time) × 100 …”

“…The time a rat took to explore a novel object was recorded at 0.5, 1, and 6 h after the substance administration was recorded. The discrimination index (DI) was calculated using the following equation [27]. The modified spectrophotometric method of Ellman was applied to determine AChE [27].…”

“…The discrimination index (DI) was calculated using the following equation [27]. The modified spectrophotometric method of Ellman was applied to determine AChE [27]. In brief, an aliquot of brain homogenate 20 µL in volume was mixed with the reaction mixture containing 200 µL of 0.1 mM sodium phosphate and 10 µL of 0.2 M5,5 ′ -dithio-bis-2-nitrobenzoic acid (DNTB).…”