Pomegranate peel extract lessens histopathologic changes and restores antioxidant homeostasis in the hippocampus of rats with aluminium chloride-induced Alzheimer’s disease

Objective:To investigate the neuroprotective efficacy of pomegranate and ellagic acid on the histopathological changes in the hippocampus of an aluminium chloride(AlCl<sub>3)induced rat model of Alzheimer’s disease.Methods:Sprague Dawley rats were divided into 4 groups(n=10each):GroupⅠ:serving as negative control;GroupⅡ,Alzheimer model,induced by administration of 17 mg/kg bw AlCl3;GroupⅢ,administered the same dose of AlCl3 with 50 mg/kg of pomegranate peel extract and GroupⅣ:administered ellagic acid(50 mg/kg)in addition to the same dose of AlCl3.The medication given to all groups continued for 28 days.All were given the compounds by gastric gavage.Radial arm maze test,hippocampus antioxidant markers,histopathology of the dentate gyrus,and CA3 of the hippocampus were evaluated.Results:Rats treated with pomegranate peel extract exposed to radial arm maze test showed less number of errors and reduced time needed to reach the criterion.There was an increase in the levels of glutathione,catalase,and total antioxidant capacity and decreased lipid peroxidation products.Histopathological features in dentate gyrus and CA3 as apoptosis and chromatolysis of pyramidal cells and granular layer,respectively,were decreased.Alzheimer characteristic neurofibrillary tangles and senile plaques were reduced.Treatment with ellagic acid ameliorated the pathological results but to a statistically lower level.Conclusions:Pomegranate peel extract alleviates memory deficit and restores antioxidant homeostasis following degenerative changes in the hippocampus induced by aluminium chloride in rats.

Hydrangeae Dulcis Folium Attenuates Physical Stress by Supressing ACTH-Induced Cortisol in Zebrafish

Objective:To determine the effects of Hydrangeae Dulcis Folium(EHDF)on physical stress,changes in the whole-body cortisol level and behaviour in zebrafish(Danio rerio).Methods:One hundred and seventy-four fish were randomly divided into 4[adrenocorticotropin hormone(ACTH)challenge test:4 fish per group]or 6 groups(behavioural test:10–12 fish per group,whole-body cortisol:4 fish per group).Net handling stress(NHS)was used to induce physical stress.Fish were treated with vehicle or EHDF(5–20 mg/L)for 6 min before they were exposed to stress.And then,fish were sacrificed for collecting body fluid from whole-body or conducted behavioural tests,including novel tank test and open field test,and were evaluated to observe anxiety-like behaviours and locomotion.In addition,to elucidate the mode of action of the anti-stress effects of EHDF,ACTH(0.2 IU/g,i.p.)challenge test was performed.Results:The increased anxiety-like behaviours in novel tank test and open field test under stress were prevented by treatment with EHDF at 5–20 mg/L(P<0.05).Moreover,compared with the unstressed group,which was not treated with NHS,the whole-body cortisol level was significantly increased by treatment with NHS(P<0.05).Compared with the NHS-treated stressed control group,pre-treatment with EHDF at concentrations of 5–20 mg/L for 6 min significantly prevented the NHS-increased whole-body cortisol level(P<0.05).In addition,ACTH challenge test showed that EHDF completely blocked the effects of ACTH on cortisol secretion(P<0.05).Conclusion:EHDF may be a good antistress candidate and its mechanism of action may be related to its positive effects on cortisol release.