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Neuroprotective effect of Perillyl alcohol in sporadic Alzheimer's disease in rats.

European journal of pharmacology
June 5, 2025
Dolly Chauhan et al. (3 authors)
Journal ArticleAnimal Study
Study Details

Study Goal

The researchers aimed to determine whether Perillyl alcohol could improve memory and cognitive function, reduce oxidative-nitritive stress, and restore cholinergic function in a rat model of sporadic Alzheimer-type dementia induced by streptozotocin.

Results Summary

Perillyl alcohol (25, 50, and 100 mg/kg) significantly improved learning and memory, reduced oxidative-nitritive stress, and restored cholinergic function in rats with induced Alzheimer-type dementia. However, the study notes that further research is needed to understand the molecular mechanisms behind these effects.

Population

Rats with experimentally induced sporadic Alzheimer-type dementia via intracerebroventricular streptozotocin infusion.

Effective Dosage

25, 50, and 100 mg/kg administered orally (p.o.)

Duration

13 days of treatment, administered between 15 and 27 days after initial streptozotocin infusion.

Interactions

None mentioned

Extracted Claims (7)
InterventionDirectionEndpointPopulationDosageImpactClaim #
Perillyl alcohol (25, 50, and 100 mg/kg p.o.)
increase
learning and memory in Morris water maze and object recognition test paradigms
Rats that received streptozotocin infusion
-
significantly improved
#1
Perillyl alcohol
decrease
oxidative-nitritive stress
Rats that received streptozotocin infusion
-
significantly reduced
#2
Perillyl alcohol
decrease
malondialdehyde and nitrite
Rats that received streptozotocin infusion
-
decrease in
#3
Perillyl alcohol
increase
reduced glutathione and catalase levels
Rats that received streptozotocin infusion
-
restored
#4
streptozotocin infusion
increase
Acetylcholinesterase activity
Rats
-
significantly increased
#5
Perillyl alcohol
decrease
acetylcholinesterase activity
Rats that received streptozotocin infusion
-
significantly decreased the increase in
#6
Perillyl alcohol
increase
spatial memory processing
-
-
has been shown to improve
#7
Abstract

As people age, Alzheimer's disease, a neurological disorder that develops gradually, affects their memory and cognitive abilities. The two hallmarks of Alzheimer's disease are intracellular buildup of neurofibrillary tangles and extracellular β-amyloid plaques. In this work, the effects of Perillyl alcohol on experimental sporadic Alzheimer-type dementia produced by intracerebroventricular streptozotocin were investigated. Rats that received streptozotocin infusion experienced cholinergic hypofunction, increased oxidative-nitritive stress, and impaired memory and learning. Between 15 and 27 days following the initial streptozotocin infusion, 13 days of treatment with Perillyl alcohol (25, 50, and 100 mg/kg p.o.) significantly improved learning and memory in Morris water maze and object recognition test paradigms. Perillyl also significantly reduced oxidative-nitritive stress, as seen by a decrease in malondialdehyde and nitrite, and restored reduced glutathione and catalase levels. Acetylcholinesterase activity significantly increased in the current model, indicating cholinergic hypofunction and enhanced neuronal cell damage. Treatment with Perillyl alcohol also significantly decreased the increase in acetylcholinesterase activity, indicating that Perillyl alcohol may be able to prevent neuronal damage and restore cholinergic functions. Perillyl alcohol has been shown to improve spatial memory processing, which may be due to its antioxidant properties and capacity to restore cholinergic functioning. However, more study is required to understand the molecular mechanisms of POH that enhance cognition or prevent neurotoxic damage, which could support its application in neuroprotective effect.

Medical Subject Headings (MeSH)
AnimalsAlzheimer DiseaseNeuroprotective AgentsMaleRatsAcetylcholinesteraseOxidative StressStreptozocinRats, WistarDisease Models, AnimalMaze LearningBehavior, AnimalGlutathioneCatalaseMemoryMonoterpenes
Study Links
Quality Scores
SafetyNot Assessed
Efficacy80/10
Quality70/10
Research Impact Scores
APT Score0.05
Weight Score1.80
Normalized Score0.66
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