Lychee and Alzheimer’s: Saponins boost rats’ cognitive function 'almost as effectively as drug'

By Millette Burgos

- Last updated on GMT

Related tags Brain

Saponins extracted from lychee seeds helped improve cognitive function of AD rats. © iStock
Saponins extracted from lychee seeds helped improve cognitive function of AD rats. © iStock
Saponins extracted from lychee seeds helped improve cognitive function and prevented neuronal injury in rats induced with Alzheimer’s Disease (AD), a new study reports.

Researchers from Southwest Medical University in Sichuan found that rats induced with AD and given lychee seed saponins (LSS) performed as well and, in some cases better, in memory tests compared to rats given a conventional durg treatment.

“The study showed that rats fed with LSS performed similarly, or even more, effective against AD than [the drug] Donepezil,” ​wrote the research team in the journal Nutrients.

“These results suggest that LSS can improve the ability of spatial learning and memory of the AD rats,”​ they added.

They also noted that brain tissue analysis led them to believe that LSS may also have a protective affect against neuronal injury.

The study involved two main groups of rats – 12 for sham operation group injected with normal saline (NS) solution in the lateral ventricle, and 68 rats injected with Amyloid β-peptide Aβ (25–35) to induce AD.

The treatments started 21 days after the AD induced procedure, with the AD rats divided further into five groups – group one treated with NS, group two was dosed with donepezil (0.42mg a day), and groups three to five given LSS in 120, 240, and 480mg by intragastric (IG) administration once a day for 28 days.

Meanwhile, the sham group had an equal volume of NS solutions by IG for 28 days as a negative control.

Morris water maze test

A Morris water maze tested for all five groups’ spatial learning and memory functions. In the hidden platform test, findings showed that the AD rats took more time to find the platform, compared to the control rats.

However, all three LSS and the donepezil groups took less time to find the hidden platform compared to AD rats treated with NS.

In a spatial probe test, compared to NS-treated AD rats, all LSS groups made more crossings and spent more time in the designated platform. The donepezil group’s spatial probe test result was similar to LSS 480mg.

Protective effects on neuron injuries caused by Amyloid β-peptide Aβ (25–35) also showed on brain tissues of rats from LSS and donepezil groups, which led researchers to conclude that LSS in AD rats improved not only cognitive function, but also prevented neuronal injury induced by Aβ (25–35).

 “LSS significantly improved cognitive function and prevented neuronal injury in the AD rats via regulation of the apoptosis pathway,”​ researchers concluded.

“Therefore, LSS may be developed as a nutritional supplement and sold as a drug for AD prevention and/or treatment.”

Source: Nutrients

DOI:10.3390/nu9020105

“Lychee Seed Saponins Improve Cognitive Function and Prevent Neuronal Injury via Inhibiting Neuronal Apoptosis in a Rat Model of Alzheimer’s Disease”

Authors: Xiuling Wang, Jianming Wu et al.

Related products

show more

Empowering Women Through the Life Cycle

Empowering Women Through the Life Cycle

Content provided by Glanbia Nutritionals | 07-Nov-2023 | Product Brochure

As discussions around female empowerment widen, and advances in women’s health access and provision accelerate, the implications for business, healthcare,...

Analyzing the unknown threat from Microplastics

Analyzing the unknown threat from Microplastics

Content provided by Agilent Technologies | 06-Nov-2023 | Infographic

Microplastics are any plastic-derived synthetic solid particle or polymeric matrix, ranging in size from 1 µm to 5 mm and insoluble in water.

Pycnogenol® Supports Cognitive Function

Pycnogenol® Supports Cognitive Function

Content provided by Horphag Research | 18-Sep-2023 | White Paper

Clinical research shows daily supplementation with Pycnogenol® may help support brain function in a variety of age groups with results showing improved...

Related suppliers

Follow us

Products

View more

Food & Beverage Trailblazers

F&B Trailblazers Podcast