Edible Bird’s Nest Prevents Menopause‐Related Memory and Cognitive Decline in Rats via Increased Hippocampal Sirtuin‐1 Expression

Abstract

Menopause causes cognitive and memory dysfunction due to impaired neuronal plasticity in the hippocampus. Sirtuin-1 (SIRT1) downregulation in the hippocampus is implicated in the underlying molecular mechanism. Edible bird's nest (EBN) is traditionally used to improve general wellbeing, and in this study, we evaluated its effects on SIRT1 expression in the hippocampus and implications on ovariectomy-induced memory and cognitive decline in rats. Ovariectomized female Sprague-Dawley rats were fed with normal pellet alone or normal pellet + EBN (6, 3, or 1.5%), compared with estrogen therapy (0.2 mg/kg/day). After 12 weeks of intervention, Morris water maze (four-day trial and one probe trial) was conducted, and serum estrogen levels, toxicity markers (alanine transaminase, alkaline phosphatase, urea, and creatinine), and hippocampal SIRT1 immunohistochemistry were estimated after sacrifice. The results indicated that EBN and estrogen enhanced spatial learning and memory and increased serum estrogen and hippocampal SIRT1 expression. In addition, the EBN groups did not show as much toxicity to the liver as the estrogen group. The data suggested that EBN treatment for 12 weeks could improve cognition and memory in ovariectomized female rats and may be an effective alternative to estrogen therapy for menopause-induced aging-related memory loss.

Efficacy of Edible Bird’s Nest on Cognitive Functions in Experimental Animal Models: A Systematic Review

“…A total of 355 records were retrieved form the four online databases and one record from extra sources. According to the eligibility criteria, six relevant studies to the effect of EBN on cognitive functions were included [ 18 , 20 , 21 , 22 , 25 , 26 ], ( Figure 1 ).…”

“…A total of six animal-based studies were included in this systematic review [ 18 , 20 , 21 , 22 , 25 , 26 ] covering a timeframe of 7 years from 2014 to 2020 and conducted in several educational institution in Malaysia ( n = 5) [ 20 , 21 , 22 , 25 , 26 ] and China ( n = 1) [ 18 ]. All the included studies were parallel interventional studies aimed to investigate the effect of EBN on cognitive functions of experimental animals as a primary outcome [ 18 , 20 , 21 , 22 , 26 ], except for the study by Zhiping et al [ 25 ] aimed to investigate the effect of EBN on oxidative stress in the hippocampal of animals. However, the health status of the recruited animal models was different, which measure the effect of EBN in animals with normal cognitive functions [ 18 , 26 ], ovariectomized-induced cognitive dysfunction [ 21 , 22 , 26 ] or lipopolysaccharide-induced cognitive dysfunction [ 20 ].…”

“…All the included studies were parallel interventional studies aimed to investigate the effect of EBN on cognitive functions of experimental animals as a primary outcome [ 18 , 20 , 21 , 22 , 26 ], except for the study by Zhiping et al [ 25 ] aimed to investigate the effect of EBN on oxidative stress in the hippocampal of animals. However, the health status of the recruited animal models was different, which measure the effect of EBN in animals with normal cognitive functions [ 18 , 26 ], ovariectomized-induced cognitive dysfunction [ 21 , 22 , 26 ] or lipopolysaccharide-induced cognitive dysfunction [ 20 ]. In accords to the latter aspects, the studies provided EBN to animals either for treating the induced-cognitive dysfunctions [ 21 , 22 , 25 ], investigating how nutritional EBN could enhance cognitive functions of offspring [ 18 , 26 ], or investigating the prophylactic effect of EBN on cognitive functions prior to inducing cognitive dysfunctions [ 20 ].…”

“…However, the health status of the recruited animal models was different, which measure the effect of EBN in animals with normal cognitive functions [ 18 , 26 ], ovariectomized-induced cognitive dysfunction [ 21 , 22 , 26 ] or lipopolysaccharide-induced cognitive dysfunction [ 20 ]. In accords to the latter aspects, the studies provided EBN to animals either for treating the induced-cognitive dysfunctions [ 21 , 22 , 25 ], investigating how nutritional EBN could enhance cognitive functions of offspring [ 18 , 26 ], or investigating the prophylactic effect of EBN on cognitive functions prior to inducing cognitive dysfunctions [ 20 ].…”

“…As a matter of fact, the literature is rich in studies that have reported the pharmacological effects of EBN, including those related to neuroprotection [ 18 , 20 , 21 , 22 , 23 , 24 , 25 , 26 ], and several reviews have outlined the pharmacological properties of EBN in several health conditions [ 27 , 28 , 29 , 30 ]. To the best of our knowledge, the literature lacks a systematic review on the neuroprotective activity of EBN.…”