Neuroprotective effects of total alkaloids fraction of Huperzia serrata on scopolamine‐induced neurodegenerative animals

Abstract

Huperzia serrata contains Huperzine A (HupA)—an alkaloid used to treat cognitive dysfunction. In this study, we used the total alkaloids (HsAE) to investigate their potential in managing cognitive impairment in comparison with HupA. The antioxidant activity was measured by DPPH assay. In the cellular study, the cell viability and level of ACh of SH‐SY5Y cells were evaluated after pretreated with HsAE and scopolamine. For in vivo assay, mice were pre‐treated with HsAE, and HupA and undergone scopolamine injection for cognitive impairment. The behavioral tests including the Y‐maze and Morris water maze test and the AChE activity, the SOD, CAT, MDA level in the hippocampus and cortex were evaluated. HsAE showed significant scavenging properties on DPPH radicals. HsAE was not toxic to SH‐SY5Y cells, and can rescue these cells upon scopolamine treatment. Intriguingly, HsAE showed the neuroprotection against scopolamine‐induced amnesia in mice. Moreover, HsAE decreased AChE activity, MDA level, increased antioxidative enzyme activity in the hippocampus as well as cortex of mice, which was relatively better than that of HupA. These findings suggested that HsAE may significantly protect the neurons of mice with scopolamine—induced memory impairment connected to AChE depletion and oxidative stress.

Antioxidant Activity of Urtica dioica: An Important Property Contributing to Multiple Biological Activities

“…Superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity was also found to increase significantly with two concentrations (50 or 100 mg/kg) of EAUD in the cortex and hippocampus regions of the brain [ 73 ]. Similar to a previous study, it also strongly supported the neuroprotective properties of UD extract via antioxidant activities [ 73 , 74 ]. In a recent study, the root extract of UD was also studied along with the leaf extract for antioxidant properties against scopolamine-induced neuropathies in rats.…”

Anti-neuroinflammatory effects of alkaloid-enriched extract from Huperzia serrata on lipopolysaccharide-stimulated BV-2 microglial cells

“…Regarding the active agents in HsAE, we profiled the main components in the alkaloid fraction via chemical analysis, and found that huperzine A was the main active component at 7.35% (Dang et al. 2022 ). According to our previously reported results, HsAE increased the cholinergic transmission by inhibiting AChE and BuChE with IC 50 values of 7.93 (5.43–10.98) µg/mL and 76.67 (64.78–91.84) µg/mL, compared to huperzine A with IC 50 values of 0.082 µM (0.02 µg/mL) and 74.43 µM (18.04 µg/mL) for AChE and BuChE, respectively (Wang et al.…”

“…As described in a previous article (Dang et al. 2022 ), HsAE, the alkaloid fraction of the total ethanol extract (HsE), was extracted and one of the main bioactive compounds in it was huperzine A. Aerial parts of H. serrata were collected from Da Lat, Lam Dong province, Vietnam, in September, 2019. The plant was identified by Master Nguyen Quynh Nga and Master Phan Van Truong at the Department of Medicinal Resources, National Institute of Medicinal Materials (NIMM), Hanoi, Vietnam.…”

The Bioactivity and Phytochemicals of Muscari comosum (Leopoldia comosa), a Plant of Multiple Pharmacological Activities

“…Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the most common neurodegenerative disorder with no cure, and its incidence is alarmingly high in old age. In recent years, several natural compounds have shown strong potential against AD [ 60 , 61 ]. The anti-AD activity of LC bulbs was studied through the inhibitory potential against the two main types of cholinesterase, including acetylcholinesterase and butyrylcholinesterase ( Figure 3 ), which are the known drug targets in AD and other neurodegenerative disorders [ 62 ].…”