The Search for Citrus Components with Neuroprotective and Anti-dementia Effects in the Mouse Brain

Citrus kawachiensis (Kawachi Bankan), is a citrus species grown in Ehime, Japan, and its peel abundant 3,5,6,7,8,3′,4′-heptamethoxyflavone (HMF). We have recently revealed that HMF, one of the flavonoids, has anti-inflammatory activity neuroprotective abilities brain against global cerebral ischemia. HMF rescued neuronal cell death hippocampus suppressed activation microglia, whose been shown to significantly aggravate neurological deficit scores for ischemic mice. In Y-maze test, showed protection ischemia-induced short-term memory dysfunction; addition, enhanced expression brain-derived neurotrophic factor accelerated neurogenesis hippocampus. Similarly, powder C. brain. To further examine effect kawachiensis, we administered it senescence-accelerated-mouse prone 8 (SAMP8) mice, which show impairment inflammation, tau hyperphosphorylation, dysfunction. The treatment inhibited microglial hyperphosphorylation protein hippocampal neurons, also relieved suppression dentate gyrus SAMP8. These results suggest potential effects as anti-dementia agents.