Protective effect of bilobalide on learning and memory impairment in rats with vascular dementia

Abstract

Abstract. Vascular dementia (VD) is the second most common type of dementia in the elderly. Currently, there are no effective drugs for preventing or decreasing the progression of dementia. Bilobalide (BB) is a monomer extracted from Ginkgo biloba leaves. The present study investigated the neuroprotective effects of BB in a two-vessel occlusion (2-VO)-induced VD rat model. The results showed that BB (4 and 8 mg/kg) significantly protected VD rats against cognitive deficits in the Morris water maze. Biochemical assessment showed that BB (4 and 8 mg/kg) increased superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity and glutathione (GSH) content, and decreased nitric oxide synthase (NOS) activity and malondialdehyde (MDA) content. Additionally, BB (4 and 8 mg/kg) was found to alleviate neuronal apoptosis and to reduce the expression of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) in the brain cortex and the hippocampal CA1 region in VD rats. These results suggest that BB provides protection against learning and memory impairment by reducing free radical injury and inhibiting neuronal apoptosis in the brain cortex and hippocampal CA1 region in VD rats.

Models and mechanisms of vascular dementia

“…Hypoxia induced oxidative stress leads to mitochondrial dysfunction (and vice versa), neuronal damage and apoptosis via nitric oxide synthase (NOS) pathway, malondialdehyde content, release of reactive oxygen species and free radicals [121–125]. Oxidative stress imbalances the ratio of antioxidants and reactive oxygen species resulting in damage to vessel endothelia, glial and neuronal cells, resulting in neurovascular uncoupling and further CBF reduction [126].…”

Herbal Medicine for the Treatment of Vascular Dementia: An Overview of Scientific Evidence

“…In a recent study in rats with two-vessel (bilateral common carotid arteries) occlusion-induced VaD model, treatment of bilobalide significantly improved the learning and memory ability of the animals in a Morris water maze task [23]. …”

Enhancing amplification of late‐outgrowth endothelial cells by bilobalide

“…Certainly, ONOO − and H 2 O 2 may partly convert into OH • . Bilobalide has antioxidant potential through promoting antioxidase expression in a variety of cell types . We failed to get a special reagent for indication of intracellular ONOO − but HPF, a fluorescence probe reactive to OH • and ONOO − .…”

“…After permeabilization by 5% goat serum, 0.1% Triton X-100 and 10 mmol/L glycine, the circled cells were incubated for 1 hour in 10% goat serum at room tempera- Transluminal mechanical injury of the femoral artery was performed according to the literature reports. 5,19,20 Briefly, the left femoral artery and a branch between the rectus femoris and vastus medialis muscles were exposed and looped proximally and distally with silk suture. Transverse arteriotomy was performed in the exposed muscular branch artery, through which a straight spring wire (0.38 mm diameter) was inserted into the femoral artery.…”