Alzheimer disease (AD) is known as lacking in the neuro-transmitters within the brain cells due to increase the Acetylcholinesterase (AchE) activity. So, use of AchE inhibitors (AchEI) is believed to be the best way in treatment of Alzheimer. Therefore, the aim of the present work was to evaluate the AchEI and apoptotic activities of fenugreek saponin against AD in vivo. Ninety male aged Sprague Dawley rats were allocated in several experimental groups including untreated animals, supplemented animals with 0.05%, 0.1% and 2% of fenugreek saponin (FS), animals treated with AlCl3 to induce AD, AD-induced animals treated with the previous doses of FS or with Rivastigmine. Brain tissues of different groups were used for determine the AchEI and apoptotic activities as well as generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), DNA damage and expression of apoptotic related genes (Bax; Bcl2 and caspase-3). The results showed that FS increased the AChEI and apoptosis activities as well as elevated the gene expression levels of Bax; Bcl2 and caspase-3 genes in AD-induced rats. However, FS decreased the ROS generation and DNA damage in AD-induced rats compared with control rats. The results suggested that the ability of fenugreek saponin to inhibit AD due to increase AChE inhibition activity might be attributed to increase the antioxidants in this herb. Moreover, enhancement the apoptosis by fenugreek saponin could be attributed mainly to the regulation process of Bax, Bcl-2 and casapse-3 in the apoptotic pathway and not by generation of ROS in the brain cells of the AD-induced rats.
Key words: Apoptosis, Acetylcholinesterase inhibition activity, Trigonella foenum-graecum, apoptotic related genes
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