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Alzheimer's disease is a challenging disease for patients due to progressive loss of cognition and behavioral disorders. Disruption of cholinergic transmission and neuroinflammation are the most important mechanisms underlying cognitive damage. Beta vulgaris L. var. cicla (BV) has been reported to have various pharmacological effects associated with its rich antioxidant content. In addition, anticholinesterase and antiinflammatory activities of BV have been demonstrated in vitro. The aim of this study is to elucidate the therapeutic effect of BV against cognitive impairment, reduction in cholinergic transmission and neuroinflammation caused by intracerebroventricular (ICV) administration of streptozotocin (STZ). STZ was administered bilaterally at a dose of 3 mg/kg via ICV to rats, and BV treatment at a dose of 2 g/kg for 21 days was administered orally to STZ-induced animals. After behavioral tests, AChE activity, TNF-α and IL-1β levels were measured in hippocampus and cortex tissues excised from decapitated animals. Novel object recognition and passive avoidance test showed that the treatment of BV reverted the ICV-STZ induced memory dysfunctions in rats. Furthermore, increased AChE levels in the hippocampal and cortical tissues of STZ-induced rats were significantly reduced with 21 days of BV treatment. In conclusion, these results confirm that STZ administration caused cholinergic hypofunction, neuronal inflammation and cognitive dysfunction in rats, and BV therapy significantly inhibited these changes with its potential neuroprotective activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aluminum (Al), an ubiquitous element in nature, enters the body primarily through gastrointestinal tract, respiratory system and skin. Being a powerful neurotoxin for human brain, Al was reported to be involved in the etiology of Alzheimer's disease due to its easy access and accumulation in the central nervous system. Melatonin (Mel) is a tryptophan-derived neurohormone in animals and plants, and produced in the pineal gland of all mammalian species. The present study examines the effects of Mel on Al-induced oxidative stress, inflammation, tissue factor production and brain damage in rat brain. Wistar albino rats were divided into four groups. Group I: control animals; Group II: rats injected with 10 mg/kg Mel; Group III: rats injected with 5 mg/kg Al2(SO4)3; and Group IV: rats injected combination of Al and Mel (5 mg/kg Al2(SO4)3 and 10 mg/kg Mel). Animals were injected three times a week for one month. At the end of the month, rats were sacrificed, their brains were removed. It was found that lipid peroxidation, protein carbonyl, advanced oxidation protein products, hydroxyproline levels, tissue factor, catalase, superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, glutathione reductase, myeloperoxidase, acetylcholine esterase, alkaline phosphatase, acid phosphatase and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase activities were increased, while paraoxonase, arylesterase, sodium potassium ATPase activities and glutathione levels were decreased in the Al-treated group. Mel treatment reversed these changes by demonstrating significant antioxidant effects. Results indicated that Mel has potential therapeutic value against Al-induced oxidative stress in the rat brain tissue and these effects may be related to its antioxidant activities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]