3papers in this issue.
Polygonatum odoratum (P. odoratum) contains many low water solubility active ingredients, but it cannot show high extraction efficiency in the case of P. odoratum, which is mainly used as tea. In this study, the physiologically active components and antioxidant activity of P. odoratum cultivated in Samcheok were compared after hot melt extrusion (HME) processing with additives. After extraction, total phenolic and flavonoid content and antioxidant activity were measured. The 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazide (DPPH) and '2,2'-azino-bis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) assays were used to evaluate antioxidant activity. Total phenols and flavonoids in hot melted extruded P. odoratum were all increased compared to non-extruded P. odoratum (Con) and increased in the order of F2>F1>F3. A decrease in IC50 value was observed in HME P. odoratum, and a correlation between an increase in active ingredients such as phenols and flavonoids and antioxidant activity was confirmed. These results suggest that the application of HME increases the water solubility of P. odoratum and that differentiated P. odoratum can be manufactured through HME.
Objective: This study investigates the potential of genkwanin as a therapeutic agent for Alzheimer’s disease (AD), specifically targeting its effects on amyloid β (Aβ) aggregation, dissociation, cytotoxicity, and Aβ-induced memory impairment. Methods: A series of in vitro and in vivo experiments were conducted to assess the effects of genkwanin on Aβ pathology. In vitro assays evaluated the ability of genkwanin to inhibit Aβ aggregation and disaggregate pre-formed Aβ fibrils, measured through Thioflavin T (ThT) fluorescence and MTT cytotoxicity assays in Neuro2a cells. In vivo, a passive avoidance test was conducted in an Aβ-injected mouse model to determine the effect of genkwanin on memory retention. Results: Genkwanin demonstrated a significant concentration-dependent inhibition of Aβ aggregation and effectively reduced the cytotoxicity of Aβ aggregates in Neuro2a cells when co-incubated with Aβ. In contrast, pre-formed Aβ aggregates treated with genkwanin showed disaggregation efficacy and partial cytotoxicity mitigation. In the passive avoidance test, genkwanin-treated mice exhibited significantly improved latency times in test trials, indicating a protective effect against Aβ-induced memory impairment. Conclusion: Genkwanin exhibits promising potential as an AD therapeutic by inhibiting Aβ aggregation, reducing Aβ-related cytotoxicity, and mitigating Aβ-induced cognitive decline. These findings support further exploration of genkwanin as a multifunctional small-molecule treatment for AD.
Cognitive impairment is a hallmark of neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's, leading to significant impacts on patients' quality of life and a substantial healthcare burden. Tanshinone I, a bioactive compound from Salvia miltiorrhiza, has been investigated for its neuroprotective and cognitive-enhancing properties, particularly for memory consolidation. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of tanshinone I on memory consolidation in mice. Electrophysiological experiments showed that tanshinone I enhanced long-term potentiation (LTP) in hippocampal slices, indicating an improvement in synaptic plasticity. Behavioral assessments, including the passive avoidance test and novel object recognition test, demonstrated that tanshinone I significantly improved memory consolidation. Furthermore, immunohistochemistry revealed increased levels of phosphorylated CREB and BDNF in the hippocampus, suggesting that tanshinone I exerts its effects through the upregulation of these crucial memory-related molecules. Collectively, our findings indicate that tanshinone I may serve as a potential therapeutic agent for treating memory deficits associated with neurodegenerative diseases.