The Ameliorating Effects of Luteolin on Beta-Amyloid-Induced Impairment of Water Maze Performance and Passive Avoidance in Rats

Abstract

The present study investigated the effects of luteolin on Aβ (1-40)-induced impairment of Morris water maze (MWM) spatial performance, reference memory, and passive avoidance (PA) behavior in rats. Luteolin treatment was started 4 days before the initiation of behavioral testing (passive avoidance on treatment day of 4–5; MWM spatial performance memory testing on treatment day of 5–7 and MWM reference memory testing on treatment day of 7) and continued until the end of the study. We also measured the activity of Mn-SOD , copper/zinc (Cu/Zn)-SOD and glutathione (GSH) levels in rat cortex and hippocampus to understand the ameliorating effect of luteolin on Aβ (1-40) induced memory impairment. The present results showed that luteolin (5, 10 mg/kg) has a protective effect on Aβ (1-40)-induced memory dysfunction in spatial performance, reference memory, and inhibitory avoidance response impairment. Finally, luteolin also increases the level of Mn-SOD , (Cu/Zn)-SOD and glutathione (GSH) in the cortex and hippocampus to reduce the oxidative stress by Aβ (1-40). Taken together, the results in this study suggest that luteolin (5, 10 mg/kg) treatment improves the learning and memory in Aβ (1-40)-induced cognition deficit in rats. The ameliorating mechanisms of luteolin on Aβ (1-40)-induced amnesia may be related to activating the anti-oxidation system.