Environ Exp Biol (2016) 14: 113–120

Effect of Cornus mas fruit flavonoids on memory retention, level of plasma glucose and lipids in an intra-cerebroventricular streptozotocin-induced experimental Alzheimer’s disease model in Wistar rats

Abstract

Poor nutrition, poor mobility, obesity and ageing increase the possibility of neuronal disorder and Alzheimer’s disease. This study examined effect of Cornus mas flavonoids on memory retention and the level of plasma glucose and lipids in an intra-cerebroventricular streptozotocin-induced experimental Alzheimer’s disease model in Wistar rats. Intracerebroventricular administration of streptozotocine (3 mg kg^–1) was performed and the animals memory were evaluated through passive avoidance tasks. Five groups (saline-saline control, streptozotocine-saline, and streptozotocine with different flavonoid doses [5, 10, 20 mg kg^–1]) were examined. Animals received different doses of C. mas flavonoids or saline for three weeks starting one day before surgery. Rat weight was measured at the beginning of each week. Injection of streptozotocine significantly reduced memory retention, compared to the control group. Flavonoid treatment increased memory retention in a dose-dependent manner, and triglyceride and glucose concentration decreased memory retention. At the same time, high-density lipoprotein concentration increased without any effect on low-density lipoprotein concentration. The dose of 10 mg kg^–1 decreased rat weight significantly. Our findings show that C. mas flavonoids can optimize cognitive deficits caused by injections of streptozotocine and also have a few positive effects on reducing the risk factors in the serum.