Neuroprotective Effect of Phaseoloidin in Scopolamine Induced Amnesia, Neuro-inflammation and Apoptosis in Mice

Background: Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a major form of dementia among neurodegenerative diseases, which results in memory deficits. There is no report of the memory enhancing activity of Entada phaseoloides, however we reported its potential as a memory enhancing compound and based on this study, its isolated compound Phaseoloidin is taken up for the present study in scopolamine induced memory impairment in Morris water Maze (MWM). Methods: Mice (n=6/group) treated with Phaseoloidin (100 and 200 mg/kg) and the standard drug Tacrine (3 mg/kg, i.p.) were pretreated with scopolamine. Animals were sacrificed to evaluate AChE and lipid peroxidase, nitric oxide, reduced glutathione, superoxide dismutase, catalase. Gene (BDNF, TrkB, NF-kappa B p65, Caspase-3) expression studies by Western Blotting and AChE, PP2A, Tau, Nrf2 and HO-1 by Reverse Transcriptase PCR and Real Time PCR. Result: Phaseoloidin and Tacrine significantly improved memory dysfunction by decreasing escape latency during training and enhance in time spent in target quadrant. Its treatment reversed the scopolamine induced elevation of AChE, elevated SOD, GSH, Catalase levels and decreased LPO, NO levels in the hippocampus. Expressions of BDNF, TrkB, NF-kappa B p65 and Caspase-3 were up regulated in the treated group. It suppressed mRNA expression of AChE, Tau and increased Nrf2, HO-1, PP2A. Thus, Phaseoloidin could be a potent neuro-pharmacological compound against amnesia.