Biological evaluation of Valeriana extracts from Argentina with potent cholinesterase inhibition for the treatment of neurodegenerative disorders and their comorbidities—The case of Valeriana carnosa Sm. (Caprifoliaceae) studied in mice

Marcucci, Carolina (author), Rademacher, Marina (author), Kamecki, Fabiola (author), Pastore, Valentina (author), Gerónimo Bach, Hernán (author), Ricco, Rafael Alejandro (author), Wagner, Marcelo Luis (author), Knez, Damijan (author), Gobec, Stanislav (author), Colettis, Natalia (author), Marder, Mariel (author)

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disorder whose pathophysiology includes the abnormal accumulation of proteins (e.g., β-amyloid), oxidative stress, and alterations in neurotransmitter levels, mainly acetylcholine. Here we present a comparative study of the effect of extracts obtained from endemic Argentinian species of valerians, namely V. carnosa Sm., V. clarionifolia Phil. and V. macrorhiza Poepp. ex DC from Patagonia and V. ferax (Griseb.) Höck and V. effusa Griseb., on different AD-related biological targets. Of these anxiolytic, sedative and sleep-inducing valerians, V. carnosa proved the most promising and was assayed in vivo. All valerians inhibited acetylcholinesterase (IC50 between 1.08–12.69 mg/mL) and butyrylcholinesterase (IC50 between 0.0019–1.46 mg/mL). They also inhibited the aggregation of β-amyloid peptide, were able to chelate Fe2+ ions, and exhibited a direct relationship between antioxidant capacity and phenolic content. Moreover, V. carnosa was able to inhibit human monoamine oxidase A (IC50: 0.286 mg/mL (0.213–0.384)). A daily intake of aqueous V. carnosa extract by male Swiss mice (50 and 150 mg/kg/day) resulted in anxiolytic and antidepressant-like behavior and improved spatial memory. In addition, decreased AChE activity and oxidative stress markers were observed in treated mouse brains. Our studies contribute to the development of indigenous herbal medicines as therapeutic agents for AD.

• Language: English
• Keywords: Alzheimer’s disease, medicinal plant, acetylcholinesterase, antioxidant, β-amyloid aggregation, monoamine oxidase, memory, antidepressant
• Work type: Article
• Typology: 1.01 - Original Scientific Article
• Organization: FFA - Faculty of Pharmacy
• Publication version: Version of Record
• Year: 2023
• Number of pages: 25 str.
• Numbering: Vol. 16, no. 1, ǂart. ǂ129
• PID: 20.500.12556/RUL-143867
• UDC: 615.214.3:616.894
• ISSN on article: 1424-8247
• DOI: 10.3390/ph16010129
• COBISS.SI-ID: 137955843
• Publication date in RUL: 17.01.2023

Record is a part of a journal

• Title: Pharmaceuticals
• Shortened title: Pharmaceuticals
• Publisher: MDPI
• ISSN: 1424-8247
• COBISS.SI-ID: 517582617

Licences

• License: CC BY 4.0, Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International
• Link: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
• Description: This is the standard Creative Commons license that gives others maximum freedom to do what they want with the work as long as they credit the author.

Secondary language

• Language: Slovenian
• Keywords: acetilholinesteraza, agregacija β-amiloida, monoaminooksidaza, spomin