Abstract
Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is characterized by alterations in monoamines, oxidative stress, and metabolic dysfunctions. We aim toassess the therapeutic impacts of roots or leaf extract from Urtica dioica (UD; stinging nettle) against scopolamine (SCOP)-induced memory dysfunction, amnesia, and oxidative stress in rats. Spatial memory was assessed by Y maze test. Tissue analysesof norepinephrine (NE), dopamine (DA), serotonin (5-HT), malondialdehyde (MDA), nitric oxide (NO), glutathione (GSH,GSSG), AMP, ADP, and ATP were assessed by HPLC. mRNA levels of Tau and Hsp70 were estimated by PCR. UD extractsparticularly nettle root (NR) significantly normalized the SCOP-induced memory deficits even more potent than sermion (SR)and donepezil (DON). Similarly, NR had potent therapeutic impacts on the levels of cortical and hippocampal monoamines e.g.DA, NE, and 5-HT. SCOP induced a dramatic oxidative stress as measured by MDA, NO, and GSSG levels; however, UDextracts showed significant anti-oxidative stress impacts. Additionally, UD extracts restored ATP levels and reduced the levels ofAMP and ADP compared to SCOP-treated rats. Furthermore, cortical Tau and hippocampal Hsp70 were modulated by UDextracts particularly NR compared to the SCOP group. In conclusion, UD extracts particularly roots have potential therapeuticimpacts against SCOP-induced neuroinflammatory and/or Alzheimer-like phenotype in rats.