Open Access

Cognitive improvements and reduction in amyloid plaque deposition by saikosaponin D treatment in a murine model of Alzheimer's disease

  • Authors:
    • Li Zhou
    • Jin‑Yuan Huang
    • Di Zhang
    • Ya‑Liang Zhao
  • View Affiliations

  • Published online on: May 17, 2020     https://doi.org/10.3892/etm.2020.8760
  • Pages: 1082-1090
  • Copyright: © Zhou et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of Creative Commons Attribution License.

Metrics: Total Views: 0 (Spandidos Publications: | PMC Statistics: )
Total PDF Downloads: 0 (Spandidos Publications: | PMC Statistics: )


Abstract

Alzheimer's disease (AD), is a severe neurodegenerative disease that currently lacks an optimally effective therapeutic agent for its management. Saikosaponin D (SSD) is a component extracted from the herb Bupleurum falcatum that is commonly used in Chinese medicine. Although SSD has been reported to exert neuroprotective effects, its pharmacological role in AD has not been previously elucidated. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to investigate whether SSD treatment improves the cognitive function and pathological features of 3xTg mice, a triple‑transgenic mouse model of AD that displays classical pathological features of AD. The effects of SSD treatment on the behavioral, histological and physiological features of the animal were quantified. Results from the behavioral experiments on the SSD‑treated 3xTg mice identified a significant reduction in memory impairment. In addition, histological staining results indicated that SSD application could preserve the morphology of neurons, reduce apoptosis and significantly inhibit amyloid‑β deposition in the hippocampus of 3xTg mice. SSD treatment also decelerated the activation of microglia and astrocytes in the hippocampus of 3xTg mice, possibly via the inhibition of the NF‑κB signal transduction pathway. Therefore, the present study demonstrated the protective effects of SSD against progressive neurodegeneration and identified the potential underlying pharmacological mechanism. It was speculated that SSD may serve as a possible therapeutic agent in AD treatment in the future.
View Figures
View References

Related Articles

Journal Cover

August-2020
Volume 20 Issue 2

Print ISSN: 1792-0981
Online ISSN:1792-1015

Sign up for eToc alerts

Recommend to Library

Copy and paste a formatted citation
x
Spandidos Publications style
Zhou L, Huang JY, Zhang D and Zhao YL: Cognitive improvements and reduction in amyloid plaque deposition by saikosaponin D treatment in a murine model of Alzheimer's disease. Exp Ther Med 20: 1082-1090, 2020
APA
Zhou, L., Huang, J., Zhang, D., & Zhao, Y. (2020). Cognitive improvements and reduction in amyloid plaque deposition by saikosaponin D treatment in a murine model of Alzheimer's disease. Experimental and Therapeutic Medicine, 20, 1082-1090. https://doi.org/10.3892/etm.2020.8760
MLA
Zhou, L., Huang, J., Zhang, D., Zhao, Y."Cognitive improvements and reduction in amyloid plaque deposition by saikosaponin D treatment in a murine model of Alzheimer's disease". Experimental and Therapeutic Medicine 20.2 (2020): 1082-1090.
Chicago
Zhou, L., Huang, J., Zhang, D., Zhao, Y."Cognitive improvements and reduction in amyloid plaque deposition by saikosaponin D treatment in a murine model of Alzheimer's disease". Experimental and Therapeutic Medicine 20, no. 2 (2020): 1082-1090. https://doi.org/10.3892/etm.2020.8760