Open Access

Investigation of the neuroprotective effects of Lycium barbarum water extract in apoptotic cells and Alzheimer's disease mice

  • Authors:
    • Xinyu Hu
    • Yidi Qu
    • Qiubo Chu
    • Wenshu Li
    • Jian He
  • View Affiliations

  • Published online on: December 19, 2017     https://doi.org/10.3892/mmr.2017.8310
  • Pages: 3599-3606
  • Copyright: © Hu et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of Creative Commons Attribution License.

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Abstract

Alzheimer's disease (AD) affects people worldwide and is caused by chronic and progressive damage to the central nervous system. Lycium barbarum (LB), a renowned functional food and medicinal plant in Southeast Asia, may possess protective effects against nerve injury. The present study aimed to investigate the neuroprotective effects of LB water extract in a differentiated (D)PC12 cellular apoptosis model induced by L‑glutamic acid (L‑Glu), and a mouse model of AD, induced by the combination of AlCl3 and D‑galactose. LB markedly increased DPC12 cell survival against L‑Glu induced damage by increasing cell viability, reducing the apoptosis rate and G1 phase arrest, suppressing intracellular reactive oxygen species accumulation, blocking Ca2+ overload and preventing mitochondrial membrane potential depolarization. LB additionally normalized the expression levels of apoptosis regulator Bcl‑2, apoptosis regulator BAX, and cleaved caspase‑3, ‑8 and ‑9 in L‑Glu exposed cells. In the AD mouse model, LB increased the amount of horizontal and vertical movement in the autonomic activity test, improved endurance time in the rotarod test and decreased escape latency time in the Morris water maze test. Additionally, the levels of acetylcholine and choline acetyltransferase were significantly increased in the serum and hypothalamus in the LB‑treated AD mice. These data suggested that LB may exert neuroprotective effects and may aid in preventing neurodegenerative disease.
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March-2018
Volume 17 Issue 3

Print ISSN: 1791-2997
Online ISSN:1791-3004

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Spandidos Publications style
Hu X, Qu Y, Chu Q, Li W and He J: Investigation of the neuroprotective effects of Lycium barbarum water extract in apoptotic cells and Alzheimer's disease mice. Mol Med Rep 17: 3599-3606, 2018
APA
Hu, X., Qu, Y., Chu, Q., Li, W., & He, J. (2018). Investigation of the neuroprotective effects of Lycium barbarum water extract in apoptotic cells and Alzheimer's disease mice. Molecular Medicine Reports, 17, 3599-3606. https://doi.org/10.3892/mmr.2017.8310
MLA
Hu, X., Qu, Y., Chu, Q., Li, W., He, J."Investigation of the neuroprotective effects of Lycium barbarum water extract in apoptotic cells and Alzheimer's disease mice". Molecular Medicine Reports 17.3 (2018): 3599-3606.
Chicago
Hu, X., Qu, Y., Chu, Q., Li, W., He, J."Investigation of the neuroprotective effects of Lycium barbarum water extract in apoptotic cells and Alzheimer's disease mice". Molecular Medicine Reports 17, no. 3 (2018): 3599-3606. https://doi.org/10.3892/mmr.2017.8310