The Effect of Ziziphora clinopodioides Hydroalcoholic Extract on the Neuronal Density and Histopathology of the Hippocampal Area CA2 in Streptozotocin-induced Alzheimer's Model in Male Rats

Subject Areas : Journal of Chemical Health Risks

Samane Seddighi ¹ , Maryam Tehranipour ^{2 *} , Gholamhassan Vaezi ³ , Vida Hojati ⁴ , Hamid Hashemi-Moghadam ⁵

1 - Department of Biology, Damghan Branch, Islamic Azad University, Damghan, Iran
2 - Department of Biology, Ma.C., Islamic Azad University, Mashhad, Iran
3 - Department of Biology, Damghan Branch, Islamic Azad University, Semnan, Iran
4 - Department of Biology, Damghan Branch, Islamic Azad University, Damghan, Iran
5 - Department of Chemistry, Damghan Branch, Islamic Azad University, Damghan, Iran

Received: 2024-01-29 Accepted : 2024-11-19 Published : 2025-06-15

Keywords: Alzheimer's disease, Kakuti, CA2 area, Hippocampus, Memory ,

Abstract :

Alzheimer's disease is a type of dementia and neurodegenerative disorder that affects memory and some cognitive functions. The CA2 area of the hippocampus has pyramidal neurons that plays an important role in cell signaling and neuromodulatory systems. Kakuti (Ziziphora clinopodioides Lam.) belongs to the Lamiaceae family and has strong antioxidant compounds. This study was conducted in order to investigate the effect of kakuti hydroalcoholic extract on neuronal density and histopathological lesions of hippocampal CA2 region following Alzheimer's induced by intraventricular injection of streptozotocin in rats. In this research, 72 adult male rats were divided into 9 groups (n = 8) including: control, negative control (Alzheimerized), positive control (Alzheimer + anti-Alzheimer drug Rivastigmine), sham groups (receiving intraventricular administration of artificial cerebrospinal fluid + 200, 400 and 600 mg kg^-1 kakuti extract) and treatment groups (Alzheimer's + receiving 200, 400, 600 mg kg^-1 kakuti extract). The neuron density was investigated by the disector method. Congo red and toluidine blue stains were used for histopathology. The data were evaluated with Minitab statistical software and ANOVA test with a significant level of p ≤ 0.001. The results showed a significant decrease in the neuronal density of the CA2 area in the Alzheimer's group and a significant increase in the treatment group with 400 mg kg^-1 of Kakuti extract. Histological sections showed the reduction of beta-amyloid plaques in the groups treated with the kakuti extract. These findings show that the hydroalcoholic extract of kakuti is probably effective in improving Alzheimer's conditions and memory and histopathological damage caused by it, and can reduce beta-amyloid plaques and cell death in the CA2 region.

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