Fenugreek Seed Powder Nullified Aluminium Chloride Induced Memory Loss, Biochemical Changes, Aβ Burden and Apoptosis via Regulating Akt/GSK3β Signaling Pathway

PLoS One. 2016 Nov 28;11(11):e0165955. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0165955. eCollection 2016.

Abstract

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common form of dementia that mainly affects the cognitive functions of the aged populations. Trigonella foenum-graecum (L.) (fenugreek), a traditionally well utilized medicinal plant ubiquitously used as one of the main food additive worldwide, is known to have numerous beneficial health effects. Fenugreek seed extract could be able to inhibit the activity of acetylcholinesterase (AChE), a key enzyme involved in the pathogenesis of AD, and further shown to have anti-parkinsonic effect. The present study was aimed to explore the neuroprotective effect of fenugreek seed powder (FSP) against aluminium chloride (AlCl3) induced experimental AD model. Administration of germinated FSP (2.5, 5 and 10% mixed with ground standard rat feed) protected AlCl3 induced memory and learning impairments, Al overload, AChE hyperactivity, amyloid β (Aβ) burden and apoptosis via activating Akt/GSK3β pathway. Our present data could confirm the neuroprotective effect of fenugreek seeds. Further these results could lead a possible therapeutics for the management of neurodegenerative diseases including AD in future.

MeSH terms

  • Acetylcholinesterase / metabolism
  • Aluminum Chloride
  • Aluminum Compounds / toxicity*
  • Amyloid beta-Peptides / metabolism
  • Animals
  • Apoptosis / drug effects*
  • Chlorides / toxicity*
  • Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3 beta / metabolism
  • Learning / drug effects
  • Male
  • Memory Disorders / chemically induced
  • Memory Disorders / drug therapy*
  • Neuroprotective Agents / pharmacology*
  • Plant Extracts / pharmacology*
  • Plants, Medicinal / chemistry
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt / metabolism
  • Rats, Wistar
  • Signal Transduction / drug effects
  • Trigonella
  • Weight Loss / drug effects

Substances

  • Aluminum Compounds
  • Amyloid beta-Peptides
  • Chlorides
  • Neuroprotective Agents
  • Plant Extracts
  • Aluminum Chloride
  • fenugreek seed meal
  • Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3 beta
  • Gsk3b protein, rat
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt
  • Acetylcholinesterase

Grants and funding

The funders (UGC, India) had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.