Platycodon grandiflorum Root Protects against Aβ-Induced Cognitive Dysfunction and Pathology in Female Models of Alzheimer’s Disease

Abstract

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a devastating neurodegenerative disease characterized by irreversible cognitive dysfunction. Amyloid beta (Aβ) peptide is an important pathological factor that triggers the progression of AD through accumulation and aggregation, which leads to AD-related pathologies that consequently affect cognitive functions. Interestingly, several studies have reported that Platycodon grandiflorum root extract (PGE), besides exhibiting other bioactive effects, displays neuroprotective, anti-neuroinflammatory, and cognitive-enhancing effects. However, to date, it is not clear whether PGE can affect AD-related cognitive dysfunction and pathogenesis. Therefore, to investigate whether PGE influences cognitive impairment in an animal model of AD, we conducted a Y-maze test using a 5XFAD mouse model. Oral administration of PGE for 3 weeks at a daily dose of 100 mg/kg significantly ameliorated cognitive impairment in 5XFAD mice. Moreover, to elucidate the neurohistological mechanisms underlying the PGE-mediated alleviative effect on cognitive dysfunction, we performed histological analysis of hippocampal formation in these mice. Histopathological analysis showed that PGE significantly alleviated AD-related pathologies such as Aβ accumulation, neurodegeneration, oxidative stress, and neuroinflammation. In addition, we observed a neuroprotective and antioxidant effect of PGE in mouse hippocampal neurons. Our findings suggest that administration of PGE might act as one of the therapeutic agents for AD by decreasing Aβ related pathology and ameliorating Aβ induced cognitive impairment.

Mesoscopic Mapping of Visual Pathway in a Female 5XFAD Mouse Model of Alzheimer’s Disease

“…The 5XFAD mice are Aβ-overexpressing transgenic mice with five familial AD mutations, generally showing significant cognitive impairment from 6 months of age and neurodegeneration from 9 months of age [ 29 , 30 ]. As previously described [ 31 ], the 5XFAD transgenic mice were identified through genotyping of tail DNA. Moreover, some 5XFAD and WT littermate mice start to exhibit retinal degeneration and lose sight at 35 days of age as a result of phosphodiesterase-6b retinal degeneration-1 ( Pde6b rd1 ) allele in the SJL/J background strain [ 32 ].…”

Crude Saponin from Platycodon grandiflorum Attenuates Aβ-Induced Neurotoxicity via Antioxidant, Anti-Inflammatory and Anti-Apoptotic Signaling Pathways

“…Platycoside E and platycodin D are the major physiologically active and indicator Platycodon grandiflorum saponins [ 17 ]. They were analyzed as described previously [ 29 ]. Analysis-grade platycoside E and platycodin D were purchased from Chengdu Biopurify Phytochemical (Chengdu, Sichuan, China).…”

“… High-performance liquid chromatography with evaporative light scattering detection analysis of Platycodon grandiflorum marker saponins. The HPLC chromatograms show the retention times and peaks of platycoside E and platycodin D. ( A ) HPLC profile of a standard solution containing platycoside E and platycodin D (Nam et al [ 29 ]). ( B ) HPLC profile of Platycodon grandiflorum extract (PGE).…”

Balloon Flower Root-Derived Extracellular Vesicles: In Vitro Assessment of Anti-Inflammatory, Proliferative, and Antioxidant Effects for Chronic Wound Healing

“…Recently, platycodins have been found to have anti-inflammatory, anti-tumor, and antioxidant effects [ 44 , 45 ]. Moreover, protective effects of BFR extract against hepatotoxicity and neurotoxicity in animal models have been reported [ 46 , 47 , 48 ]. The purpose of this study was to isolate EVs from BFRs, which are known to possess bioactive functions, using a PEG-based precipitation and ultracentrifugation technique.…”