Ailanthus altissima Extract Ameliorates Cognitive Decline and Neurodegeneration in an Aluminum Chloride–Induced Rat Model of Alzheimer’s Disease

Background

The extract of Ailanthus altissima possesses anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective properties. We aimed to investigate its effectiveness in mitigating the AlCl₃-induced Alzheimer’s disease in a rat model.

Methods

A total of 32 adult male Wistar rats were divided into 4 groups each consisting of 8 rats. The control group received saline and the AlCl₃ group received AlCl₃ (0.2 cc 100 mg/kg, intraperitoneal) for 14 days. Two other groups received either 50 or 100 mg/kg of Ailanthus altissima after AlCl₃ treatment. Behavioral tests including open field test (OFT), elevated plus maze, and passive avoidance tests were performed. Nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB), glial filamentous acidic protein (GFAP), and amyloid beta were stained using immunohistochemistry (IHC) in the hippocampus.

Results

AlCl₃ administration caused significant memory impairment, and treatment with Ailanthus altissima extract effectively mitigated these deficits in a dose-dependent manner. The effects were dose-dependent, and the group receiving 100 mg/kg extract presented the most significant results in the conducted behavioral tests. The IHC results for NF-κB showed that treatment with 50 mg/kg of extract significantly reduced NF-κB expression compared with the AlCl₃ group (6.64% vs. 13.3%, respectively, p < 0.05). A higher dose of 100 mg/kg resulted in an even greater reduction (4.45% vs. 13.3%, p < 0.01). Extract treatment reduced GFAP positivity in a dose-dependent manner, with the 50 mg/kg group showing a significant decrease to 11.8% (p < 0.05). The 100 mg/kg group demonstrated an even more substantial reduction to 7.7% (p < 0.01) compared with the AlCl₃ group (18.65%). Amyloid beta positivity was critically reduced in the 100 mg/kg-receiving group.

Conclusions

Ailanthus altissima extract shows potential as a neuroprotective extract. It counteracts AlCl₃-induced behavioral and neuropathological changes, suggesting promising therapeutic applications.