Effects of Garcinia manni oliv. Biflavonoids on a Model of Aluminum Chloride AlCl3-induced Alzheimer’s Disease in Drosophila

Abstract

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disorder characterized by progressive memory loss, cognitive decline, and loss of autonomy. This study aimed to evaluate the therapeutic effects of five biflavonoids extracted from the leaves and stems of Garcinia manni on proteins and events involved in AD development following aluminum chloride (AlCl3) exposure in a drosophila model.  Molecular docking studies conducted using Molegro Virtual Docker identified biflavonoids OBIII and DS03 based on their favorable docking scores in regards to molecular targets such as catalase, SOD, nitric oxide synthase, amyloid beta protein, and acetylcholinesterase. Drosophila were exposed to AlCl3 at concentrations of 5, 10, and 20 mM, with 5 mM inducing AD-like symptoms after seven days. Following three days of exposure to this concentration via diet, flies were treated with biflavonoids or baicalin at concentrations of 650 and 6500 µM for four days. Compared to untreated intoxicated flies, experimental groups exhibited significant improvements (p < 0.001) in locomotion and short-term memory. To further investigate the curative effects of the two biflavonoids, seven groups of 50 flies each were established for testing at the aforementioned concentrations. Spectrophotometric assays of oxidative stress and inflammation markers revealed a significant decrease (p < 0.001) in malondialdehyde (MDA) and nitric oxide (NO) production, alongside with increased activity of catalase and superoxide dismutase in biflavonoid-treated groups. All together, these findings position these compounds as promising therapeutic candidates for AD treatment.