Eugenitol ameliorates memory impairments in 5XFAD mice by reducing Aβ plaques and neuroinflammation

Biomed Pharmacother. 2022 Apr:148:112763. doi: 10.1016/j.biopha.2022.112763. Epub 2022 Feb 28.

Abstract

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is caused by various pathological mechanisms; therefore, it is necessary to develop drugs that simultaneously act on multiple targets. In this study, we investigated the effects of eugenitol, which has anti-amyloid β (Aβ) and anti-neuroinflammatory effects, in an AD mouse model. We found that eugenitol potently inhibited Aβ plaque and oligomer formation. Moreover, eugenitol dissociated the preformed Aβ plaques and reduced Aβ-induced nero2a cell death. An in silico docking simulation study showed that eugenitol may interact with Aβ1-42 monomers and fibrils. Eugenitol showed radical scavenging effects and potently reduced the release of proinflammatory cytokines from lipopolysaccharide-treated BV2 cells. Systemic administration of eugenitol blocked Aβ aggregate-induced memory impairment in the Morris water maze test in a dose-dependent manner. In 5XFAD mice, prolonged administration of eugenitol ameliorated memory and hippocampal long-term potentiation impairment. Moreover, eugenitol significantly reduced Aβ deposits and neuroinflammation in the hippocampus of 5XFAD mice. These results suggest that eugenitol, which has anti-Aβ aggregation, Aβ fibril dissociation, and anti-inflammatory effects, potently modulates AD-like pathologies in 5XFAD mice, and could be a promising candidate for AD therapy.

Keywords: Aggregation; Alzheimer’s disease; Amyloid β; Dissociation; Eugenitol; Inflammation.

MeSH terms

  • Alzheimer Disease / pathology
  • Amyloid beta-Peptides* / drug effects
  • Animals
  • Cell Death / drug effects
  • Cell Line
  • Cell Survival / drug effects
  • Cytokines / drug effects
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
  • Free Radical Scavengers / metabolism
  • Hippocampus / drug effects
  • Male
  • Memory Disorders* / pathology
  • Mice
  • Neuroinflammatory Diseases* / pathology
  • Reactive Oxygen Species / metabolism

Substances

  • Amyloid beta-Peptides
  • Cytokines
  • Free Radical Scavengers
  • Reactive Oxygen Species
  • eugenitol