Pomegranate Seed Oil Boosts Memory by Reducing Amyloid Plaques and Restoring Neuronal Density in Alzheimer’s Model Rats

AuthorMehrdad Jahanshahien
AuthorVahid Khorien
AuthorEmsehgol Nikmahzaren
AuthorFateme Yazdanien
AuthorElsana Jahanshahien
AuthorGozal Bahlakehen
Issued Date2025-05-31en
AbstractBackground: Pomegranate seed oil possesses antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and neuroprotective properties. Alzheimer's disease is a prevalent neurodegenerative disorder that results in behavioral and cognitive impairments. Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the effects of pomegranate seed oil on memory impairment, neuronal density, and amyloid beta (Aβ) plaque in the hippocampus of rats, both pre- and post-scopolamine administration. Methods: Fifty-six male Wistar rats were randomly assigned to seven groups. Rats received intraperitoneal injections of pomegranate seed oil (0.32 and 0.64 mg/kg) or saline for 14 days, either before or after intraperitoneal infusion of scopolamine (3 mg/kg). Memory function was assessed using the passive avoidance test. Cresyl violet and Congo red staining techniques were employed to evaluate hippocampal neuronal density and Aβ plaques, respectively. Results: Evaluation of memory using the passive avoidance test after scopolamine injection revealed a significant reduction in memory retention. Treatment with pomegranate seed oil at a dose of 0.32 mg/kg improved memory performance both before and after scopolamine injection; however, this improvement was not statistically significant. Scopolamine significantly increased the number of amyloid plaques (P < 0.0001) and significantly decreased the number of neurons in the hippocampus (P < 0.0001) compared to control rats. Pomegranate seed oil at doses of 0.32 and 0.64 mg/kg significantly reduced the density of amyloid plaques (P < 0.0001) and increased the number of neurons in the hippocampus when compared to saline-treated rats. Conclusions: Pomegranate seed oil demonstrated significant neuroprotective and therapeutic effects by enhancing neuronal density and reducing amyloid plaque formation in the hippocampus. Therefore, pomegranate seed oil is suggested as a potential treatment for alleviating symptoms associated with Alzheimer’s disease.en
DOIhttps://doi.org/10.5812/jjnpp-158460en
KeywordAlzheimer’s Diseaseen
KeywordAmyloid Plaquesen
KeywordHippocampusen
KeywordMemoryen
KeywordPomegranate Seed Oilen
KeywordScopolamineen
PublisherBrieflandsen
TitlePomegranate Seed Oil Boosts Memory by Reducing Amyloid Plaques and Restoring Neuronal Density in Alzheimer’s Model Ratsen
TypeResearch Articleen

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