Attenuation of Oxidative Stress and Anti-Alzheimer Effect of Ursolic Acid
Abstract:
Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a progressive
neurodegenerative disorder characterized by cognitive decline and
neurodegeneration, with oxidative stress playing a pivotal role in its
pathophysiology. Ursolic acid (UA), a triterpenoid found in various medicinal
plants, exhibits antioxidant and neuroprotective properties that may counteract
oxidative damage associated with AD. This study aimed to evaluate the
antioxidant, neuroprotective, and anti-Alzheimer effects of Ursolic acid using
in vitro assays. The antioxidant potential was assessed via the DPPH free
radical scavenging assay. The neuroprotective effects were evaluated through
acetylcholinesterase inhibition assays, while UA's anti-Alzheimer potential was
examined using amyloid-beta aggregation and beta-secretase inhibition assays. Ursolic
acid demonstrated significant (p<0.001) antioxidant activity, effectively
scavenging DPPH radicals in a concentration-dependent manner. In the
acetylcholinesterase inhibition assay, UA exhibited a notable (p<0.05) reduction
in enzyme activity from 10 mM to the maximum concentration of 80mM, suggesting its potential to enhance cholinergic
neurotransmission. Furthermore, UA significantly inhibited amyloid-beta
aggregation and reduced beta-secretase activity between concentrations of 10 mM – 80 mM, indicating its promising role in mitigating key
pathological features of Alzheimer’s disease. The findings suggest that Ursolic
acid possesses potent antioxidant and neuroprotective effects, along with the
ability to inhibit amyloid-beta aggregation and beta-secretase activity. These
results highlight the therapeutic potential of Ursolic acid as a candidate for
the prevention and treatment of Alzheimer’s disease, warranting further
investigation in vivo models to validate its efficacy and mechanisms of action.
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