Neuroprotective effects of <i>Sophora secundiflora</i>, <i>Sophora tomentosa</i> leaves and formononetin on scopolamine-induced dementia

Abstract

Five flavonoids were isolated from the ethyl acetate fraction of leaves of <i>Sophora secundiflora</i>; formononetin <b>(1)</b>, 5-hydroxy-4'-methoxyflavone <b>(2)</b>, genistein <b>(3)</b>, 5-hydroxy-8-(1-hydroxy-1-methyl-ethyl)-2-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-4<i>H</i>-furo-[2, 3-<i>h</i>]-chromen-4-one <b>(4)</b> and ononin <b>(5)</b>. Additionally, LC-ESI-MS/MS analysis of the ethyl acetate fraction of <i>S. secundiflora</i> leaves had led to tentative identification of eighteen compounds. Formononetin, <i>S. tomentosa</i> and <i>S. secundiflora</i> leaves methanolic extract were evaluated <i>in vivo</i> for their neuroprotective activity where formononetin and <i>S. tomentosa</i> showed promising neuroprotective activity with reduction in acetylcholine esterase (AchE) enzyme activity and elevation of acetylcholine (Ach) and glutathione(GSH) brain levels and attenuation of dopamine (DA), nor-adrenaline (NA) and malonedialdehyde (MDA) brain level significantly, However <i>S. secundiflora</i> leaves methanolic extract didn't attenuate the AchE enzyme activity, DA and NA brain levels.