Clearance of Amyloid Beta Plaques from Brain of Alzheimeric Rats by Lavandula angustifolia

Abstract

An important marker in neurodegenerative Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is abnormal production of amyloid beta (A β ) peptide leading to formation of plaques in the brain. Through decreasing A β aggregates, anti-inflammatory agents, phagocytosis, and proteolytic enzymes are known to decline risk of A β plaque formation. In the previous study we showed that aqueous extract of Lavandula angustifolia (lavender), with known anti-inflammatory effects, improves memory deficits in animal model of Alzheimer. Here, we assess if lavender play a role in clearance of A β plaques in the hippocampus. The Alzheimeric animals were created with intracerebroventricular injection of A β 1-42. To confirm formation of A β plaques, brain sections were stained by Congo red method. Twenty days post-injection they were administered with different doses ( 50, 100 and 200 mg/kg) of the aqueous extract of lavender for duration of 20 days. Our results demonstrated that 50 mg/kg of lavender not effectively influenced the A β plaques. On the other hand, the herbal medicine at the doses of 100 and 200 mg/kg markedly decreased the extent of A β aggregates . We concluded that the lavender extract dose dependently underlies elimination of A β plaques. The exact mechanism by which the herbal medicine removes the A β aggregates needs to be elucidated.