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. 2019 Jan-Feb;10(1):85-97.
doi: 10.32598/bcn.9.10.270. Epub 2019 Jan 1.

Neuroprotective Effect of Zataria Multiflora Essential Oil on Rats With Alzheimer Disease: A Mechanistic Study

Narges Eskandari-Roozbahani  1 , Tahoora Shomali  1 , Mahnaz Taherianfard  1
Affiliations

Neuroprotective Effect of Zataria Multiflora Essential Oil on Rats With Alzheimer Disease: A Mechanistic Study

Narges Eskandari-Roozbahani et al. Basic Clin Neurosci. 2019 Jan-Feb.

Abstract

Introduction: Finding herbs with promising effects to prevent or postpone Alzheimer Disease (AD) is highly demanded. The present study aimed at clarifying plausible effects and related mechanism(s) of Zataria Multiflora Essential Oil (ZMEO) against memory impairment in a rat model of the AD.

Methods: Forty male adult rats were categorized into four groups and treated as follows: 1. The Negative Control (NC): no treatment; 2. Sham control (sham): distilled water by Intracerebroventricular (ICV) injection; 3. The AD control (AD): Aβ 1-42 by ICV injection; and 4. The ZMEO group: Aβ 1-42 by ICV injection and ZMEO at 100 μL/kg/d orally for 20 days.

Results: After Congo red staining of the hippocampus, a relative decrease in amyloid deposits was observed in the ZMEO group. Moreover, rats showed better outcomes in Morris Water Maze (MWM) test, reduced hippocampal acetylcholinesterase (AchE) activity, and higher Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF) content as compared with the AD group (P<0.05). However, no significant changes in antioxidant status was observed (P>0.05).

Conclusion: ZMEO has a protective effect against memory impairment in rats with AD at least partly via reducing hippocampal AchE activity and enhancement of BDNF levels without a change in antioxidant status. These findings can pave the way for future studies on the usefulness of this herb in AD prevention.

Keywords: Acetylcholinesterase; Alzheimer Disease; Antioxidants; Brain-derived neurotrophic factor.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of interest Authors declared no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
Mean escapes latency to find the visible platform in a water maze A) The learning patterns of the animals in different groups; B) The escape latency to the visible platform during days 1–3 of training; four groups were tested: The NC (negative control group), sham (sham control group), the AD (the AD control group), and the ZMEO (the ZM essential oil 100 μL/kg). Error bars indicate ±SD. * P<0.05 versus sham group.
Figure 2.
Figure 2.
Mean escapes latency to find the invisible platform in a water maze A) The learning patterns of the animals in different groups; B) The escape latency to the invisible platform during days 4–6 of training; four groups were tested: the NC (negative control group), sham (sham control group), the AD (the AD control group), and the ZMEO (the ZM essential oil 100 μL/kg). No significant difference was observed among the groups. Error bars indicate±SD.
Figure 3.
Figure 3.
Mean travel distances to find the visible platform in a water maze A) The pattern of distance traveled by the animals; B) The travel distances to the visible platform during days 1–3 of training; the obtained data were averaged to reach a mean performance for each animal. Four groups were tested: the NC (negative control group), sham (sham control group), the AD (the AD control group), and the ZMEO (the ZM essential oil 100 μL/kg). Error bars indicate±SD. * P<0.02 versus the ZMEO and SC groups. ** P<0.0001 versus the AD and SC groups.
Figure 4.
Figure 4.
Mean travel distances to find the invisible platform in a water maze A) The pattern of distance traveled by the animals; B) The travel distance to the invisible platform during days 4–6 of training; the obtained data were averaged to reach a mean performance for each animal; four groups were tested: the NC (negative control group); sham (sham control group), the AD (the AD control group), and the ZMEO (the ZM essential oil 100 μL/kg). Error bars indicate±SD.
Figure 5.
Figure 5.
Mean swimming speeds to find the visible platform in a water maze A) The pattern of swimming speed by the animals; B) The swimming speed to find the visible platform during days 1–3 of training; there was no significant difference among groups. The data were averaged to obtain a mean performance for each animal. Four groups were tested: the NC (negative control group), sham (sham control group), the AD (the AD control group), and the ZMEO (the ZM essential oil 100 μL/kg). Error bars indicate±SD.
Figure 6.
Figure 6.
Mean swimming speeds to find the invisible platform in a water maze A) The pattern of swimming speed by the animals; B) The swimming speed to find the hidden platform during days 4–6 of training; there was no significant difference among groups. The data were averaged to obtain a mean performance for each animal. Four groups were tested: the NC (negative control group), sham (sham control group), the AD (the AD control group), and the ZMEO (the ZM essential oil 100 μL/kg). Error bars indicate±SD.
Figure 7.
Figure 7.
Mean time spent in target quadrant of water maze in the day 7 (24 hours after learning trails) The data were averaged to obtain a mean performance for each animal. Four groups were tested: the NC (negative control group), sham (sham control group), the AD (the AD control group), and the ZMEO (the ZM essential oil 100 μL/kg). Error bars indicate±SD. * P<0.05 versus the AD group.
Figure 8.
Figure 8.
Photo micrographs of Congo red stained sections of hippocampus in different groups Representative photo micrographs of Congo red stained sections of hippocampus in (A) the negative control, (B) sham control (C) the AD control (AD, Aβ 1–42 by ICV injection) and (D) the treatment group (Aβ 1–42 I.C.V injection plus ZM essential oil by oral gavages). High density of amyloid deposits (orange-red plaques) was observed in the AD group. The severity of plaque deposition was subjectively lower in the treatment group. No plaques were detected in the negative and sham control groups (Magnification: 100×).
Figure 9.
Figure 9.
Mean AchE activity in hippocampus from rats in different groups four groups were tested: the NC (negative control group), sham (sham control group), the AD (the AD control group), and the ZMEO (the ZM essential oil 100 μL/kg). Error bars indicate±SD. *P<0.001 versus the AD group.
Figure 10.
Figure 10.
Mean BDNF concentration (ng/g w/w) in hippocampus homogenate from rats in different groups Four groups were tested: the NC (negative control group), sham (sham control group), the AD (the AD control group), and the ZMEO (the ZM essential oil 100 μL/kg). Error bars indicate±SD. * P<0.05 versus the AD group.
Figure 11.
Figure 11.
Mean MDA content (A) and TAC (B) in hippocampus homogenate from rats in different groups There was no significant difference among groups (P>0.05). Four groups were tested: the NC (negative control group), sham (sham control group), the AD (the AD control group), and the ZMEO (the ZMEO 100 μL/kg). Error bars indicate ±SD.
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