Improvement of memory deficits via acetylcholinesterase inhibitory activity of Nepeta nuda ssp. nuda essential oil in rats

Abstract

Nepeta L. (Lamiaceae) species are belonging to aromatic and medicinal plants. Many biological activities of Nepeta species have been reported. In this study, memory-enhancing activities of Nepeta nuda ssp. nuda essential oil was aimed to be evaluated in laboratory rats treated with scopolamine. GC-MS/GC-FID system was used to identify oil composition. Memory performances of the rats were tested using Y-maze and radial-arm maze. Acetylcholinesterase enzyme activity and molecular docking analysis were also performed in this study. In total, 44 different compounds were identified in Nepeta nuda ssp. nuda essential oil. Trans-cis nepetalactone was showed to be the most abundant constituent in the oil. In the Y-maze test, the oil improved the performances of the animals on spontaneous alternation. Besides, in the radial-arm maze test, the oil improved working and reference memory significantly impaired in the rats subjected to scopolamine. The oil also showed acetylcholinesterase inhibitory activity in vitro. The molecular docking method, in the meantime, revealed that some of the compounds in the oil could interact with the acetylcholinesterase enzyme, theoretically. Nepeta nuda ssp. nuda essential oil improved spatial memory of scopolamine-induced rats. Neuroprotective effects of the oil are probably related to the anti-cholinesterase activity of the oil. Therefore, Nepeta nuda ssp. nuda essential oil could be used as a complementary therapy to improve memory in Alzheimer’s and related diseases.

Patterns of Genetic Variation of Nepeta nuda L. from the Central Balkans: Understanding Drivers of Chemical Diversity

“…The following supporting information can be downloaded at https://www.mdpi.com/article/10.3390/plants13111483/s1: Figure S1: Base peak chromatograms, in negative and positive ionization modes, of 11 different Nepeta nuda leaf extracts; for peak annotation see retention times in Table 1 and peak areas from Table S2; Figure S2: A proposed fragmentation pathway of (A) compound 5 (vanillic acid hexoside) and (B) compound 25 (feruloylmalic acid); Figure S3: A proposed fragmentation pathway of compound 33 (5-deoxylamiol); Figure S4: A proposed fragmentation pathway of (A) compound 39 (genipin) and (B) compound 42 (loganetin); Figure S5: A proposed fragmentation pathway and MS 2 spectra of (A) compound 71 (argolic acid A rhamnoside) and (B) compound 76 (argolic acid A methyl ether rhamnoside); Table S1: Review of the literature related to the detection of various compounds (iridoids, phenolics, and terpenes) in Nepeta nuda extracts [99][100][101][102][103][104][105][106]; Table S2: Peak areas of compounds identified using QToF MS in eleven different Nepeta nuda leaf extracts; Table S3: Validation parameters of the SRM method of the UHPLC/DAD/(±)HESI-MS 2 for the quantification of targeted compounds.…”

In Vitro Bioactivities and In Silico ADME Profile for Potential Biological Target Prediction of Selected Phytochemicals Using Six Nepeta Species

“…[3] N. sorgerae, N. viscida, N. trachonitica, [4] N. nuda, N. cadmea, [5] N. baytopii, [6] N. cadmea, [7] N. heliotropifolia, N. congesta, [8] N. nuda, N. cadmea, [9] N. meyeri, [10] N. italica, [11] and N. trachonitica [12] growing in different regions of Turkey have been investigated by researchers for their bioactivity, oil constituents, fatty acids, and phenolics. Although there are many studies on the chemical content and biochemical studies of N. italica, [13] and N. nuda, [5,9,14,15] limited studies have been carried out on N. aristata, [16] N. baytopii, [6] N. stenantha, [17] N. trachonitica [12] in the literature.…”