Luteolin Mitigates D-Galactose-Induced Brain Ageing in Rats: SIRT1-Mediated Neuroprotection

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Pharmacology
• Gerontology

Background:

• Luteolin is a natural polyphenol with demonstrated neuroprotective effects.
• Research on luteolin's efficacy in D-galactose (D-gal)-induced brain aging models is limited.
• Brain aging is associated with cognitive decline, oxidative stress, and neuroinflammation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the neuroprotective potential of luteolin against D-galactose-induced brain aging in a rat model.
• To evaluate the effects of luteolin on cognitive function, hippocampal health, and molecular markers of aging.

Main Methods:

• Forty rats were divided into control, luteolin, D-gal, and luteolin + D-gal groups.
• Assessments included behavioral tests, cholinergic function, mitochondrial respiration, oxidative stress, neuroinflammation, senescence, and apoptosis markers.
• Gene expression (SIRT1, BDNF, RAGE) and hippocampal histopathology were analyzed.

Main Results:

• Luteolin significantly alleviated D-gal-induced cognitive impairment and cholinergic dysfunction.
• Luteolin treatment reduced hippocampal oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction, neuroinflammation, and senescence.
• Luteolin attenuated neuronal apoptosis and upregulated SIRT1 mRNA expression.

Conclusions:

• Luteolin demonstrates significant neuroprotective effects against D-gal-induced brain aging in rats.
• Its benefits are attributed to antioxidant, senolytic, anti-inflammatory, and anti-apoptotic properties, potentially via SIRT1 upregulation.
• Luteolin shows promise as a therapeutic agent for age-related brain abnormalities.