Cited by 193Phytochemicals and Medicinal PlantsMedicinal Plants and NeuroprotectionAlzheimer's disease research and treatments

Protective Role of Ashwagandha Leaf Extract and Its Component Withanone on Scopolamine-Induced Changes in the Brain and Brain-Derived Cells

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Konar, Arpita, Shah, Navjot, Singh, Rumani, Saxena, Nishant, Kaul, Sunil C., Wadhwa, Renu, Thakur, Mahendra K.·2011·PLoS ONE

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Scopolamine is a well-known cholinergic antagonist that causes amnesia in human and animal models. Scopolamine-induced amnesia in rodent models has been widely used to understand the molecular, biochemical, behavioral changes, and to delineate therapeutic targets of memory impairment. Although this has been linked to the decrease in central cholinergic neuronal activity following the blockade of muscarinic receptors, the underlying molecular and cellular mechanism(s) particularly the effect on neuroplasticity remains elusive. In the present study, we have investigated (i) the effects of scopolamine on the molecules involved in neuronal and glial plasticity both in vivo and in vitro and (ii) their recovery by alcoholic extract of Ashwagandha leaves (i-Extract). METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: As a drug model, scopolamine hydrobromide was administered intraperitoneally to mice and its effect on the brain function was determined by molecular analyses. The results showed that the scopolamine caused downregulation of the expression of BDNF and GFAP in dose and time dependent manner, and these effects were markedly attenuated in response to i-Extract treatment. Similar to our observations in animal model system, we found that the scopolamine induced cytotoxicity in IMR32 neuronal and C6 glioma cells. It was associated with downregulation of neuronal cell markers NF-H, MAP2, PSD-95, GAP-43 and glial cell marker GFAP and with upregulation of DNA damage--γH2AX and oxidative stress--ROS markers. Furthermore, these molecules showed recovery when cells were treated with i-Extract or its purified component, withanone. CONCLUSION: Our study suggested that besides cholinergic blockade, scopolamine-induced memory loss may be associated with oxidative stress and Ashwagandha i-Extract, and withanone may serve as potential preventive and therapeutic agents for neurodegenerative disorders and hence warrant further molecular analyses.

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  1. [2]Blokland A 2005 Scopolamine-induced deficits in cognitive performance: A review of animal studies. Scopolamine Rev 1–76
  2. [43]Shah N Kataria H Kaul SC Kaur G Wadhwa R 2009 Effect of the alcoholic extract of Ashwagandha leaves and its components on proliferation and differentiation of glioblastoma cells: a combinational formula for enhanced differentiation. Cancer Sci 100 1740 1747 19575749 PMC11159946
  3. [47]Hung CH Lin MT Liao JF Wang JJ 2004 Scopolamine-induced amnesia can be prevented by heat shock pretreatment in rats. Neurosci Lett 364 63 66 15196678
  4. [48]Lee B Park J Kwon S Park M-W Oh S-M 2010 Effect of wild ginseng on scopolamine-induced acetylcholine depletion in the rat hippocampus. J Pharmacy Pharmacol 62 1 9 20487207

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Authors
Konar, A., Shah, N., Singh, R., Saxena, N., Kaul, S. C., Wadhwa, R., & Thakur, M. K.
Affiliations
  • Banaras Hindu University (IN)
  • National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (JP)
Corresponding author
  • Wadhwa, Renu
  • Thakur, Mahendra K.
Venue
PLoS ONE
Published
2011-11-11
Volume
6
Issue
11
Pages
e27265
ISSN
1932-6203 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W1972643467
Cited by
193
References
49
Citations by year
2026: 4 · 2025: 18 · 2024: 11 · 2023: 19 · 2022: 12 · 2021: 14 · 2020: 17 · 2019: 9 · 2018: 15 · 2017: 25 · 2016: 12 · 2015: 9 · 2014: 12 · 2013: 11 · 2012: 3
FWCI
23.07
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • PLoS ONE (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion, cc-by-sa)
Funders
  • National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology
  • Indian Council of Medical Research
  • Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, India
  • Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology
  • Honjo International Scholarship Foundation
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Complementary and alternative medicine › Phytochemicals and Medicinal Plants
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Complementary and alternative medicine › Medicinal Plants and Neuroprotection
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Physiology › Alzheimer's disease research and treatments
Keywords
scopolamine, scopolamine-induced amnesia, withanone, neuroprotection, neurotoxicity, oxidative stress, DNA damage, neuroplasticity, brain-derived neurotrophic factor, glial fibrillary acidic protein, cholinergic blockade, memory impairment, neurodegenerative diseases, neuroinflammation
MeSH terms
Animals, Brain, Cell Line, DNA Damage, Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein, Nerve Tissue Proteins, Plant Extracts, Scopolamine, Triterpenes, Oxidative Stress, Plant Leaves, Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor, Withania, Cell Line, Tumor, Mice, Withanolides

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