Conventional treatment strategies provide symptomatic relief from Alzheimer’s disease (AD), but their long-term use is associated with the progression of neuronal degeneration. Considering the previously reported in vitro neuroprotective activity of Rosa moschata, this study was designed to evaluate the anti-Alzheimer’s potential of R. moschata leaf extract (RMLE) at safe doses in an aluminum chloride + D-galactose-induced AD rat model. An HPLC/ESI-MS analysis of the RMLE was performed to identify the neuroprotective phytochemicals. An oral acute toxicity study was conducted to determine the safe dosage levels. For the development of the AD model, aluminum chloride + D-galactose (150 mg/kg each) were administered simultaneously to rats, except the control group. RMLE at 50, 100, and 150 mg/kg was administered orally to the treatment groups for three weeks. Neurobehavioral studies were performed, and the levels of antioxidant enzymes and neurotransmitters in the brain homogenate were assessed. Using qPCR, the mRNA expression of neuropathological biomarkers of AD was estimated. HPLC/ESI-MS analysis revealed the presence of 12 compounds in negative mode and 2 com-pounds in positive ionic mode, exhibiting antioxidant and neuroprotective potential. RMLE improved rat behavioral parameters in a dose-dependent manner through the inhibition of oxidative stress and acetylcholinesterase. Neurotransmitter levels and gene expression of neurodegenerative and neuroinflammatory biomarkers (IL-1β, IL-1α, TNF-α, ABPP, β-secretase, and α-synuclein) were significantly restored (P < 0.05) in a dose-dependent manner by RMLE. These findings support the therapeutic application of extracts obtained from R. moschata leaves in neurodegeneration, particularly in AD.
Algarzae et al. (Wed,) studied this question.