Sea Cucumber-Derived Peptide Attenuates Scopolamine-Induced Cognitive Impairment by Preventing Hippocampal Cholinergic Dysfunction and Neuronal Cell Death

Abstract

The incidence of neurodegenerative diseases related to cognitive decline and memory loss is on the rise as the global elderly population increases. In this study, we evaluated the effect of the sea cucumber-derived peptide Phe−Tyr−Asp−Trp−Pro− Lys (FYDWPK) on scopolamine-induced neurotoxicity in an animal model. The Morris water maze, passive avoidance apparatus, and shuttle box test were used to assess learning and memory abilities. In behavioral tests, FYDWPK effectively alleviated learning and memory impairment. FYDWPK also alleviated cholinergic dysfunction in mice with dementia. Furthermore, FYDWPK significantly improved oxidative imbalance by increasing superoxide dismutase activity and decreasing malondialdehyde levels (P < 0.05). The pathological results showed that FYDWPK alleviated neuronal loss, blurred caryotheca, and pyknotic nuclei in the hippocampus, and a high dose of FYDWPK had the best effect. In conclusion, FYDWPK alleviated cognitive and memory impairments by regulating oxidative imbalance, reducing cholinergic dysfunction, and relieving pathological alterations.

Production of Bioactive Peptides from Sea Cucumber and Its Potential Health Benefits: A Comprehensive Review

“…Inflammatory stress is usually tightly associated with metabolic syndromes and inflammatory cytokines, which are accompanied by other diseases, such as gastric mucosa injury, tumors, memory impairment, and so forth. Using lipopolysaccharide-induced mouse RAW264.7 macrophages, Song et al reported that SCP from flavourzyme, exerted anti-inflammatory activity.…”

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“…These neuroprotective functions have been verified and broadened in animal studies. The sea cucumber‐derived peptide Phe‐Tyr‐Asp‐Trp‐Pro‐Lys (FYDWPK) proved its neuroprotective effects in scopolamine‐treated mice by maintaining redox homeostasis, restoring cholinergic function, and reducing pathological changes, thereby improving learning and memory dysfunction (Zhao et al., 2022). Xu et al.…”

“…With the progress of social development and medical technology in recent decades, people can live better and longer lives. On the other hand, due to the increasing aging population, the incidence of neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer's disease (AD), has increased quickly, and treatments for these diseases have become research hotspots (Zhao et al., 2022). The typical symptoms of AD include memory loss, cognitive decline, judgment disorder, and behavioral disorder (Tian et al., 2010).…”

“…The sea cucumber-derived peptide Phe-Tyr-Asp-Trp-Pro-Lys (FYD-WPK) proved its neuroprotective effects in scopolamine-treated mice by maintaining redox homeostasis, restoring cholinergic function, and reducing pathological changes, thereby improving learning and memory dysfunction (Zhao et al, 2022). Xu et al (2020) found that SCP enhanced memory in normal and memory-impaired mice via behavioral tests, improved ACh content and AChE activity, and balanced histone acetylation levels.…”

Amelioration of walnut-derived novel peptides against d-galactose-induced cognitive impairment by modulating the gut microbiota composition

“…4 The overactivation of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) may lead to a decrease in acetylcholine (ACH) levels, and ACH is a neurotransmitter that is essential for brain and nervous system functioning. 5 Hence, AChE inhibitors are generally considered viable drugs for relieving the cognitive impairments in patients with dementia. However, long-term administration of these drugs, such as rivastigmine, donepezil, and galantamine, can produce a series of adverse effects, such as nausea, diarrhea, and vomiting.…”