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Selfheal (Prunella vulgaris) as a tool for helping with Cognitive function
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Prunella vulgaris L. is as a major plant in the Chinese traditional functional beverage Guangdong herbal tea for the treatment of fevers, diarrhea, and sore mouth. In this study, ethyl acetate parts of aqueous extracts from P. vulgaris L. (EtOAc-APV) were found to demonstrate potent acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibition in vitro. Therefore, this study was designed to further investigate the effects of EtOAc-APV on scopolamine (SCOP)-induced aging rats. Male Wistar rats were randomly divided into four groups (n = 12) and given orally by gavage EtOAc-APV (100 mg/kg) for 3 weeks. SCOP (1 mg/kg, ip) was administered to rats 30 min before starting behavioral tests consecutively for 3 days. EtOAc-APV could attenuate SCOP-induced brain senescence in rats by improving behavioral performance and decreasing brain cell damage, which was associated with a notable reduction in AChE activity and MDA level, as well as an increase in SOD and GPx activities. Additionally, EtOAc-APV administration could reduce the expression of NF-κB and GFAP, which showed an anti-neuroinflammatory effect on the SCOP-treated rat. Overall, the current study highlights P. vulgaris L. as an antidementia dietary supplement.
1 source supporting Selfheal for Cognitive function. Includes scientific publications, books, monographs and traditional-use references.
Mechanistic basis
This use is associated with the plant's neuroprotective / cognition support action. Further evidence for that pharmacology:
Self-heal (L.) is a perennial edible plant that is widely distributed across the world and is traditionally consumed as a food additive in soft drink beverages. In this study, to explore the functional components of, an investigation of its ethanol extracts has been conducted by our group. As a result, twelve (1-12) vulgarisin-type diterpenoids with a special 5/6/4/5-fused ring skeleton, including six new ones (1-6), were obtained. Their structures including the absolute configuration were elucidated based on comprehensive spectroscopic evidence, ECD calculations, as well as single-crystal X-ray diffraction analyses. All the isolates were tested for neuroprotective effects against ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) on primary neuron cells through the oxygen and glucose deprivation and reperfusion (OGD/R) induced injury model. The results showed that all twelve vulgarisin-type diterpenoids possess promising neuroprotective activity at a concentration of 10 μM. Among them, compound 3 can significantly suppress cell apoptosis by regulating Bax/Bcl-2 protein expression and inhibiting cleaved caspase-3 and caspase-9 expression with a western blotting assay. Further research revealed that compound 3 could improve mitochondrial function by inhibiting mitochondrial cytochromerelease, reducing ROS levels, and maintaining the membrane potential. This work firstly reports vulgarisin-type diterpenoids possessing neuroprotective activity. These findings also suggest that daily consumption ofmight prevent cerebral disordersa mitochondria-related pathway.