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This study investigated the possible protective and therapeutic effects of Myrtus communis subsp. communis ethanol extract (MC) in aluminum chloride (AlCl3) and D-galactose (D-Gal) induced Alzheimer's disease in rats. MC was orally given to rats as a protective treatment for 90 days and, in other two groups starting from the 60th day MC (100-200 mg/kg) was administered, concomitantly with AlCl3 and D-Gal. Learning and memory functions were evaluated by the behavioral tests. Biological activities of MC treatment were examined in hippocampal tissues by ELISA tests. D-Gal and AlCl3-treated rats showed increased amyloid beta (Aβ) and 8-hydroxy-2-deoxyguanosine (8- OHdG) levels, acetylcholinesterase activity and decreased neprilysin, Na+-K+ATPase and SOD levels in parallel with a decrease in Novel Object Recognition Test, Morris Water Maze and Passive Avoidance Test scores. On the other hand, MC administration reversed the behavioral impairments and improved learning and memory. Moreover, MC treatment decreased Aβ and 8-OHdG levels and acetylcholinesterase activity and increased neprilysin levels, Na+-K+ATPase and SOD levels. Our results suggest that MC has beneficial effects on cognitive and neuronal functions through its anticholinesterase and antioxidant properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Myrtus communis subsp. communis showed beneficial effects against the disturbances of cognitive functions in Alzheimer-disease-like pathologies. • Myrtus communis subsp. communis has anticholinesterase and hypoglycemic effects. • MC may be useful as a supportive agent for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease, by enhancing cholinergic transmission and neurogenesis. The purpose of this study was to investigate the possible effects of Myrtus communis subsp. communis (MC) on cognitive impairment in ovariectomized diabetic rats. Female Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into 5 groups consisting of 15 rats each; Control (C), Diabetes (D), Ovariectomy and diabetes (OVX + D), Ovariectomy, diabetes and donepezil (OVX + D + Don), Ovariectomy, diabetes and Myrtus communis subsp. communis (OVX + D + MC). Blood glucose measurements were made at the beginning and end of the experiments. The animals underwent the novel object recognition test (NORT) and their performance was evaluated. In hippocampal tissues; amyloid beta (Aβ) and neprilysin levels, acetylcholinesterase (AChE), and choline acetyltransferase (ChAT) activities, polysialylated neural cell adhesion molecule (PSA-NCAM), α7 subunit of neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (α7-nAChR) and brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) gene expressions were examined. Animals with ovariectomy and diabetes showed increased levels of blood glucose, AChE activity and Aβ levels, and decreased neprilysin levels, ChAT activity, α7-nAChR, PSA-NCAM and BDNF gene expressions in parallel with a decrease in NORT performance score. On the other hand, in the MC-treated OVX + D group, there was a significant decrease observed in blood glucose levels and AChE activities while there was improvement in NORT performances and an increase in hippocampal ChAT activity, neprilysin levels, α7-nAChR, PSA-NCAM and BDNF expressions. These results suggest that MC extract could improve cognitive and neuronal functions with its anticholinesterase and antihyperglycemic properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]