Intracerebroventricular infusion with amyloid-β peptide or consuption of pomegranate peel extract did not affect the hepatic function.

<p>Serum was tested to OGT and GPT by ELISA. There was no diference in the biomarkers levels in the serum of Control (n = 6), Aβ (n = 6) and Aβ + PPE (n = 6). Histograms and vertical bars are means ± S.E.M.</p

Infusion with amyloid-β peptide and treatment with pomegranate peel did not interfere with motor activity of the animals.

<p>There was no difference in the locomotor activity or the rearing between groups before or after the infusion period and treatment (Ctrl, n = 12; Aβ, n = 12 and Aβ + PPE, n = 12). Data are plotted as the mean ± S.E.M. of units of motor activity.</p

Neuroprotective Effects of Pomegranate Peel Extract after Chronic Infusion with Amyloid-β Peptide in Mice - Fig 4

<p><b>Representative figures of thioflavine-S staining in brain of Ctrl (A), Aβ (B) and Aβ + PPE (C) groups.</b> The coronal sections showed are at approximately the same anatomical level (-1.58 mm from Bregma) and correspond to hippocampal areas. Representative figures are from samples run in the same batch during staining procedure. White arrows indicate the senile plaques. Scale bar is 140 μm.</p

Treatment with pomegranate peel extract significantly decreased the number of plaques.

<p>Chronic infusion with Aβ peptide promoted the formation of senile plaques in the brain of mice, as described previously in rats [<a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0166123#pone.0166123.ref018" target="_blank">18</a>]. The Aβ + PPE group (n = 6) presented a significant reduction in the number of plaques, when compared to the Aβ group (n = 6). Histograms and vertical bars are the means ± SEM. *: P < 0.01.</p

There was no significant change in the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) enzyme in the serum, cortex and the hippocampus of all animals.

<p>Brain homogenates and serum were tested to SOD activity by ELISA. The was no difference in SOD activity either in the hippocampus, cortex or serum of Control, Aβ and Aβ + PPE groups.</p

Treatment with pomegranate peel extract significantly decreased AChE levels.

<p>There was no significant difference in the activity of the AChE between the control and the Aβ groups. However, treatment with pomegranate promoted a significant reduction in the activity of this enzyme in both the cortex (Ctrl, n = 7; Aβ, n = 7 and Aβ + PPE, n = 8) and hippocampus (Ctrl, n = 6; Aβ, n = 7 and Aβ + PPE, n = 6). Data are the means ± S.E.M. *: P < 0.05; **: P < 0.01.</p

Treatment with pomegranate peel extract maintained spatial memory.

<p>In the “acquisition session”, all animals (Ctrl, n = 12; Aβ, n = 12 and Aβ + PPE, n = 12) learned the task as demonstrated by the significant decrease in number of errors to find the escape box on the 4^th day of exposition of all groups [F_(3,81) = 9.55, P < 0.0001, panel A].</p

Infusion with amyloi-β increased the level of TNF-α in the brain and the treatment with pomegranate peel extract significantly decreased the inflammatory process.

<p>Brain homogenates and serum were tested to TNF-α by ELISA. There was no diference in TNF-α levels in the serum of Control (n = 5), Aβ (n = 6) and Aβ + PPE (n = 6) groups. In the cortex, the infusion of Aβ increased the TNF-α level. The treatment with Aβ + PPE (n = 6) decreased the TNF-α level when compared to the Control (n = 6) and Aβ (n = 5) groups. Histograms and vertical bars are means ± S.E.M. *: P < 0.05; **: P < 0.001.</p

Treatment with pomegranate peel extract promoted a significant reduction in lipid peroxidation.

<p>There was no significant difference in the MDA content of the control (n = 9) and Aβ (n = 9) groups. Treatment with pomegranate peel extract induced a significant decrease in lipid peroxidation in Aβ + PPE (n = 9), when compared to the Aβ group. Histograms and vertical bars are the means ± S.E.M. *: P < 0.05.</p

Treatment with pomegranate peel extract significantly increased BDNF levels.

<p>Control (n = 8) and Aβ groups (n = 8) did not have differences in the density of BDNF. However, treatment with PPE promoted a significant increase in BDNF in both the cortex and hippocampus on Aβ + PPE group (n = 8). Histograms and vertical bars are the means ± S.E.M. *: P < 0.05.</p