Essential oils from two Allium species exert effects on cell proliferation and neuroblast differentiation in the mouse dentate gyrus by modulating brain-derived neurotrophic factor and acetylcholinesterase

Abstract

BackgroundIn the present study, we investigated the effects of oil products from two Allium species: Allium sativum (garlic) and Allium hookeri (Chinese chives) on cell proliferation and neuroblast differentiation in the mouse dentate gyrus.MethodsUsing corn oil as a vehicle, the essential oil from garlic (10 ml/kg), or Chinese chives (10 ml/kg) was administered orally to 9-week-old mice once a day for 3 weeks. One hour following the last treatment, a novel object recognition test was conducted and the animals were killed 2 h after the test.ResultsIn comparison to the vehicle-treated group, garlic essential oil (GO) treatment resulted in significantly increased exploration time and discrimination index during the novel object recognition test, while Chinese chives essential oil (CO) reduced the exploration time and discrimination index in the same test. In addition, the number of Ki67-immunoreactive proliferating cells and doublecortin-immunoreactive neuroblasts significantly increased in the dentate gyrus of GO-treated animals. However, administration of CO significantly decreased cell proliferation and neuroblast differentiation. Administration of GO significantly increased brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) levels and decreased acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity in the hippocampal homogenates. In contrast, administration of CO decreased BDNF protein levels and had no significant effect on AChE activity, compared to that in the vehicle-treated group.ConclusionsThese results suggest that GO significantly improves novel object recognition as well as increases cell proliferation and neuroblast differentiation, by modulating hippocampal BDNF protein levels and AChE activity, while CO impairs novel object recognition and decreases cell proliferation and neuroblast differentiation, by reducing BDNF protein levels in the hippocampus.

Probing the Comparative Bioefficacy of Allium sativum L. Bulb through Different Solvents

“…Previously, essential oil extracted from A. sativum inhibited AChE activity up to 65.4 % [26]. Essential oils also reduced the activity of AChE in hippocampal homogenates [27,28]. In conclusion, present data suggests that Allium sativum extracts and fractions are active inhibitors of AChE and hold promise to be used for the treatment of neurological manifestations.…”

Neuroprotective Effect of Cardamom Oil Against Aluminum Induced Neurotoxicity in Rats

“…It has been shown that, AChE promotes the aggregation and formation of Aβ fragments in the brain (7). It has been reported that AChE inhibitors such as donepezil hydrochloride enhance neurogenesis in the brain by decreasing AChE and increasing BDNF (8, 9). BDNF is one of the most widely distributed neurotrophins present in the brain.…”

“…Terpenoids are mixture of naturally occuring, volatile compounds which are synthesized by plants in the form of secondary metabolites. The essential oils (EOs) obtained from certain plants such as juniper oil from common juniper ( Juniperus communis L) (19) and clove oil obtained from clove buds ( Eugenia caryophyllus ) (20) are reported to have anticholinesterase activity (8, 21, 22). So, essential oils may show their neuroprotective effect by down-regulation of AChE and up-regulation of BDNF in the brain.…”

Inhibitory effect of Garlic Powder on MPTP-induced dopaminergic neurodegeneration by activation of Nrf2-HO1 and mitochondrial dynamics

“…And whether Gp can stop α-Synuclein aggregation to play a protective role needs to be further explored. In addition, garlic has been reported to increases cell proliferation and neuroblastic differentiation by regulating BDNF protein level and AChE activity [42] , and this effect needs to be further demonstrated in MPTP mouse model.…”