Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is of the most common dementia causes. Boswellia carteri s used for its memory enhancing effects. The present experimental study investigates the effects of B. carterion aluminium chloride (AlCl3)-induced AD in adult male albino rats. Forty adult male Albino rats were randomly divided into five groups (8 rats each). Rats of the first group were served as controls; rats of the second group B. carter! group were supplemented orally with B. carted aquatic extract (500 mg /kg b.w./day) for 8 weeks; rats of the third group AlCl3 group (AD model) were treated orally with AlCl3 (100 mg/ kg b.w./day) for 8 weeks; rats of the forth group (B. carted + AlCl3) received 500 mg/ kg b.w./day and AlCl3 (100 mg/ kg b.w./day) orally for 8 weeks; rats of the fifth group (rivastigmine + AlCl3) received orally rivastigmine (0.3 mg/kg.w./day) and AlCl3 (100 mg/kg b.w./day) for 8 weeks. After eight weeks, the behavioral test (maze learning test) was done for rats to assess learning and memory, acetylcholinesterase (AchE), some neurotransmitter levels 'dopamine (DA), norepinephrine (NE), gamma amino butyric acid (GABA)] and oxidative stress markers as [reduced glutathione (GSH), oxidase glutathione (GSSG), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and lipid peroxidation (LPO)] were measured in cortex and hippocampus homogenate, and histopathological studies were made for the hippocampus area. Aluminum exposure significantly decreased the learning and memory in the maze learning test. Significant increase of cortex and hippocampus homogenate levels of AchE and LPO but significant decrease in NE, DA and GABA, GSH, GSSG and SOD were observed in rats subjected to AlCl3. Histopathological examination of hippocampus sections showed severe changes including increase of degenerated cells and structural damage in AlCl3 treated rats. Treatment of rats with B. carteri or rivastigmine leads to improvement of rat's memory and learning, neurotransmitters and oxidative stress markers and pronounced attenuation on the hippocampus and cortex damage caused by AlCl3. This study suggests that chronic oral intake of B. carted have neuroprotective effect and improve the learning and memory in AD rat's models and these effects may be due to its antioxidant properties.