Sesaminol glucosides protect β-amyloid peptide-induced cognitive deficits in mice

Abstract

This study was designed to investigate the effect of sesaminol glycosides (SG), one of the most abundant lignan glycosides in sesame (Sesamum indicum LINN.) seed, on cognitive deficits and oxidative stress induced by intracerebroventricular (i.c.v.) injection of β-amyloid protein (Aβ)25-35 in mice. Mice were fed diets containing 0%, 0.25%, or 0.5% of SG for six weeks. Dietary SG showed a protective effect against Aβ-induced learning and memory deficits in passive avoidance and the Morris water maze test. Aβ caused significant neuronal loss in the CA1 and CA3 regions of the hippocampus, but SG supplement showed decrease of the Aβ25-35 induced neuronal loss. The SG supplementation significantly decreased thiobarbituric acid reactive substance values and 8-hydroxy-2′-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) levels in brain tissue. SG also reversed the activity of glutathione peroxidase (GPx), which is decreased by Aβ. These results suggest that SG protects against cognitive deficits induced by Aβ25-35, in part through its antioxidant activity. © 2009 Pharmaceutical Society of Japan.