Evaluation of the Influence of <i>Tanacetum vulgare</i> Extract on Cognitive Functions and Hippocampal BDNF Expression

<i>Tanacetum vulgare</i> L. has been traditionally applied as a remedy for headaches, rheumatism, digestion, respiratory and neurological problems, and other medical conditions. However, the literature data on its effects on cognitive function are scarce. The aim of the present work was...

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Main Authors: Borislava Lechkova, Michaela Shishmanova-Doseva, Niko Benbassat, Reneta Gevrenova, Pepa Atanassova, Nadya Penkova, Lyudmil Peychev, Petar Hrischev, Zhivko Peychev, Stanislava Ivanova
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Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2024-12-01
Series:Molecules
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/29/23/5723
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author Borislava Lechkova
Michaela Shishmanova-Doseva
Niko Benbassat
Reneta Gevrenova
Pepa Atanassova
Nadya Penkova
Lyudmil Peychev
Petar Hrischev
Zhivko Peychev
Stanislava Ivanova
author_facet Borislava Lechkova
Michaela Shishmanova-Doseva
Niko Benbassat
Reneta Gevrenova
Pepa Atanassova
Nadya Penkova
Lyudmil Peychev
Petar Hrischev
Zhivko Peychev
Stanislava Ivanova
author_sort Borislava Lechkova
collection DOAJ
description <i>Tanacetum vulgare</i> L. has been traditionally applied as a remedy for headaches, rheumatism, digestion, respiratory and neurological problems, and other medical conditions. However, the literature data on its effects on cognitive function are scarce. The aim of the present work was to evaluate the effects of two doses of <i>T. vulgare</i> alcohol extract on cognitive functions, hippocampal brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) expression, and organ toxicity in rats. Rats were treated with <i>T. vulgare</i> 200 mg/kg (TV 200) and 1000 mg/kg (TV 1000) for 28 days. After one week of pre-treatment, the animals were subjected to a series of tests. We found that in the active avoidance test, only TV 200 improved learning and memory, while in the passive avoidance test, both doses facilitated these processes. In addition, the two doses enhanced spatial memory. In the elevated plus maze test, only the higher dose of TV 1000 resulted in anxiolytic-like behavior. Both doses of the extract significantly increased the hippocampal expression of BDNF. We suggest that increased neurotrophic factor expression could be one of the important mechanisms underlying the cognition-enhancing effects of <i>T. vulgare</i> extract.
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publishDate 2024-12-01
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series Molecules
spelling doaj-art-554c5bf4adfc470e9f97c8ed8cf401c62024-12-13T16:28:50ZengMDPI AGMolecules1420-30492024-12-012923572310.3390/molecules29235723Evaluation of the Influence of <i>Tanacetum vulgare</i> Extract on Cognitive Functions and Hippocampal BDNF ExpressionBorislava Lechkova0Michaela Shishmanova-Doseva1Niko Benbassat2Reneta Gevrenova3Pepa Atanassova4Nadya Penkova5Lyudmil Peychev6Petar Hrischev7Zhivko Peychev8Stanislava Ivanova9Department of Pharmacognosy and Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Medical University of Plovdiv, 4002 Plovdiv, BulgariaResearch Institute, Medical University of Plovdiv, 4002 Plovdiv, BulgariaDepartment of Pharmacognosy and Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Medical University of Plovdiv, 4002 Plovdiv, BulgariaDepartment of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Medical University-Sofia, 2 Dunav Str., 1000 Sofia, BulgariaDepartment of Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, Faculty of Medicine, Medical University of Plovdiv, 4002 Plovdiv, BulgariaDepartment of Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, Faculty of Medicine, Medical University of Plovdiv, 4002 Plovdiv, BulgariaDepartment of Pharmacology, Toxicology and Pharmacotherapy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Medical University of Plovdiv, 4002 Plovdiv, BulgariaDepartment of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Medical University of Plovdiv, 4002 Plovdiv, BulgariaDepartment of Medical Informatics, Biostatistics and E-Learning, Faculty of Public Health, Medical University of Plovdiv, 4002 Plovdiv, BulgariaDepartment of Pharmacognosy and Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Medical University of Plovdiv, 4002 Plovdiv, Bulgaria<i>Tanacetum vulgare</i> L. has been traditionally applied as a remedy for headaches, rheumatism, digestion, respiratory and neurological problems, and other medical conditions. However, the literature data on its effects on cognitive function are scarce. The aim of the present work was to evaluate the effects of two doses of <i>T. vulgare</i> alcohol extract on cognitive functions, hippocampal brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) expression, and organ toxicity in rats. Rats were treated with <i>T. vulgare</i> 200 mg/kg (TV 200) and 1000 mg/kg (TV 1000) for 28 days. After one week of pre-treatment, the animals were subjected to a series of tests. We found that in the active avoidance test, only TV 200 improved learning and memory, while in the passive avoidance test, both doses facilitated these processes. In addition, the two doses enhanced spatial memory. In the elevated plus maze test, only the higher dose of TV 1000 resulted in anxiolytic-like behavior. Both doses of the extract significantly increased the hippocampal expression of BDNF. We suggest that increased neurotrophic factor expression could be one of the important mechanisms underlying the cognition-enhancing effects of <i>T. vulgare</i> extract.https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/29/23/5723<i>Tanacetum vulgare</i>cognitive functionsanxiolytic activityBDNFhippocampus
spellingShingle Borislava Lechkova
Michaela Shishmanova-Doseva
Niko Benbassat
Reneta Gevrenova
Pepa Atanassova
Nadya Penkova
Lyudmil Peychev
Petar Hrischev
Zhivko Peychev
Stanislava Ivanova
Evaluation of the Influence of <i>Tanacetum vulgare</i> Extract on Cognitive Functions and Hippocampal BDNF Expression
Molecules
<i>Tanacetum vulgare</i>
cognitive functions
anxiolytic activity
BDNF
hippocampus
title Evaluation of the Influence of <i>Tanacetum vulgare</i> Extract on Cognitive Functions and Hippocampal BDNF Expression
title_full Evaluation of the Influence of <i>Tanacetum vulgare</i> Extract on Cognitive Functions and Hippocampal BDNF Expression
title_fullStr Evaluation of the Influence of <i>Tanacetum vulgare</i> Extract on Cognitive Functions and Hippocampal BDNF Expression
title_full_unstemmed Evaluation of the Influence of <i>Tanacetum vulgare</i> Extract on Cognitive Functions and Hippocampal BDNF Expression
title_short Evaluation of the Influence of <i>Tanacetum vulgare</i> Extract on Cognitive Functions and Hippocampal BDNF Expression
title_sort evaluation of the influence of i tanacetum vulgare i extract on cognitive functions and hippocampal bdnf expression
topic <i>Tanacetum vulgare</i>
cognitive functions
anxiolytic activity
BDNF
hippocampus
url https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/29/23/5723
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