Syzygium aromaticum ethanol extract reduces AlCl_3-induced neurotoxicity in mice brain through regulation of amyloid precursor protein and oxidative stress gene expression

Objective: To investigate the neuroprotective effects of Syzygium aromaticum(S.aromaticum)extract(500 mg/kg) on AlCl_3(300 mg/kg)-induced mouse model of oxidative stress and neurotoxicity.Methods: An ethanolic extract of S.aromaticum seeds was prepared and the active compounds were identified using nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy.BALB/c mice were divided into five groups(negative control, AlCl_3-treated, self-recovery, AlCl_3 + S.aromaticum, S.aromaticum only; n=10) and treated with AlCl_3 and S.aromaticum extract.Expression of oxidative markers [Superoxide dismutase 1(SOD1) and peroxiredoxin 6(Prdx6)] and amyloid precursor protein(APP) in the hippocampus and cortex was evaluated via PCR.Histopathological assessment was performed to investigate the extent of neurodegeneration.Results: It was observed that AlCl_3 exposure increased the expression of APP770 while simultaneously down regulated the expression of APP695.AlCl_3 also induced a significant decrease(P<0.05) and an increase(P<0.05) in the expression level of SOD1 and Prdx6, respectively.A substantial decrease substantial(P<0.05) in the density of Nissl substance was also observed in cortex of the mice treated with AlCl_3.Interestingly, treatment with S.aromaticum extract normalized the alterations in the expression level of SOD1, Prdx6 and APPisoforms and improved the neuronal structural damage.Conclusions: The results showed that S.aromaticum is a promising antioxidant and a neuroprotective agent.

The Role of Synapsins in Neurological Disorders

Synapsins serve as flagships among the presynaptic proteins due to their abundance on synaptic vesicles and contribution to synaptic communication. Several studies have emphasized the importance of this multi-gene family of neuron-specific phosphoproteins in maintaining brain physiology. In the recent times, increasing evidence has established the relevance of alterations in synapsins as a major determinant in many neurological disorders. Here,we give a comprehensive description of the diverse roles of the synapsin family and the underlying molecular mechanisms that contribute to several neurological disorders.These physiologically important roles of synapsins associated with neurological disorders are just beginning to be understood. A detailed understanding of the diversified expression of synapsins may serve to strategize novel therapeutic approaches for these debilitating neurological disorders.