Polygala crotalarioides treatment improves cognitive function in mouse model of Alzheimer’s disease

Abstract

Background: Alzheimer’s disease (AD) as a progressively neurodegenerative brain disease is a devastating pathology leading to disastrous cognitive impairments and dementia. Polygala crotalarioides (P. crotalarioides) is an effective folk traditional herbal medicine for treating AD.

Methods: The AD progression was assessed by pathological and behavioral observation to evaluate the therapeutic effect of P. crotalarioides on AD in vivo using APPswe/PS1dE9 male mice. Activated microglia in mouse brain tissues was analyzed by immunofluorescent staining. Aβ and Tau proteins levels were tested by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Morris water maze test, balance beam test and new object recognition test were employed to evaluate the memory and learning after P. crotalarioides treatments in AD mice.

Results: Activated microglia increased in brain tissues of AD mice, whereas P. crotalarioides treatment reduced microglia activated. AD mice had enhanced Aβ and Tau clearance when treated with P. crotalarioides. Moreover, P. crotalarioides treatment improved cognition and mobility in AD mice.

Conclusions: Our results suggested that P. crotalarioides treatment ameliorated AD progression in mice.