Cassia tora extract alleviates Ab1–42 aggregation processes in vitro and protects against aluminium-induced neurodegeneration in rats.

Objectives To examine the ability of Cassia tora extract to produce, in vitro and
in vivo, beneficial effects with respect to events occurring during Alzheimer’s disease.
Methods Previously characterised methanol extract of C. tora was tested for its
ability to lessen Ab42 aggregation processes in vitro and to alleviate aluminiuminduced impairments in vivo in rats.
Key findings Cassia tora extract prevents the aggregation of monomeric, oligomeric and fibrillary Ab1–42 in vitro. Moreover, the daily ingestion of 100 and 400
milligrams of the extract per kilogram of body weight for 60 days ameliorates the
neurobehavioral and cognitive abilities of aluminium-treated rats in vivo. Importantly, treatments with the extract trigger a significant recovery of antioxidant
enzymes function, a diminution of lipid peroxidation and acetylcholinesterase
activity, a decrease of pro-inflammatory cytokines expression and an increase of
brain-derived neurotrophic factor levels in both the hippocampus and the frontal
cortex. Finally, we evidence that the extract is able to ameliorate the aluminiumdependent loss of neuronal integrity in the CA1 and CA3 regions of the hippocampus.
Conclusions Altogether, our results reveal that methanol extract of C. tora is
able to prevent typical AD-related events and therefore stands as a promising
mild and natural anti-AD multitarget compound.