Eugenol is a phenylpropene having antidepressant properties. We investigated the effect of eugenol on amyloid plaques as a hallmark of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) in two AD rat models. In the latter, betaamyloid (Aβ) and insulin amyloid fibrils were injected into the rat hippocampus. After a one week lapse, the rats were treated with 0.01 and 0.02 mg/kg eugenol for two weeks. Passive avoidance learning and memory performance was assessed by measuring the step-through latency (STL). Amyloid plaques in the hippocampus were quantitatively evaluated and statistically analyzed using image processing software and ANOVA. Aβ amyloid was a more potent inducer of the signs related to Alzheimer’s disease than insulin. Eugenol at a 0.01 mg/kg dose improved memory and reduced the number of amyloid plaques significantly (P < 0.001). Possible mechanisms are proposed for the inhibitory effects of eugenol on hippocampus plaques.
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Taheri, P., Yaghmaei, P., Tehrani, H.S. et al. Effects of Eugenol on Alzheimer’s Disease-like Manifestations in Insulin- and Aβ-Induced Rat Models. Neurophysiology 51, 114–119 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11062-019-09801-z
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11062-019-09801-z