6,7,4'-Trihydroxyisoflavone, a major metabolite of daidzein, improves learning and memory via the cholinergic system and the p-CREB/BDNF signaling pathway in mice

Eur J Pharmacol. 2018 May 5:826:140-147. doi: 10.1016/j.ejphar.2018.02.048. Epub 2018 Mar 3.

Abstract

Daidzein is one of the major isoflavfones found in soy food and plants. Following ingestion, daidzein is readily converted to hydroxylated metabolites in the human body. 6,7,4'-Trihydroxyisoflavone (THIF), one of the metabolites of daidzein, has several pharmacological activities, including anti-cancer and anti-obesity properties. However, no reports exist on the effects of 6,7,4'-THIF for cognitive function in mice. The present study aimed to investigate the effects of 6,7,4'-THIF against scopolamine-induced learning and memory impairments using the Y-maze and passive avoidance test. A single administration of 6,7,4'-THIF significantly improved scopolamine-induced cognitive dysfunction in these in vivo tests. Moreover, treatment with 6,7,4'-THIF alone enhanced learning and memory performance in the same behavioral tests. Molecular studies showed that 6,7,4'-THIF significantly inhibited acetylcholinesterase and thiobarbituric acid reactive substance (TBARS) activities in the hippocampus of scopolamine-induced mice. In addition, immunohistochemistry and Western blot results revealed that 6,7,4'-THIF significantly increased brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and phosphor cAMP response element binding (CREB) in the hippocampus of mice. Taken together, these findings suggest that 6,7,4'-THIF improves cognitive dysfunction induced by scopolamine and enhances learning and memory by activation of the cholinergic system and the p-CREB/BDNF signaling pathway in mice.

Keywords: 6,7,4′-Trihydroxyisoflavone; Alzheimer's disease; Brain-derived neurotrophic factor; Cognition; cAMP response element binding.

MeSH terms

  • Acetylcholinesterase / metabolism*
  • Animals
  • Avoidance Learning / drug effects
  • Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor / metabolism
  • Cholinergic Agents
  • Cognition / drug effects
  • Cognitive Dysfunction / chemically induced
  • Cognitive Dysfunction / drug therapy*
  • Cognitive Dysfunction / pathology
  • Cyclic AMP Response Element-Binding Protein / metabolism
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Hippocampus / drug effects
  • Hippocampus / metabolism
  • Hippocampus / pathology
  • Humans
  • Isoflavones / metabolism
  • Isoflavones / pharmacology*
  • Isoflavones / therapeutic use
  • Male
  • Malondialdehyde / metabolism
  • Maze Learning
  • Memory Disorders / chemically induced
  • Memory Disorders / drug therapy*
  • Memory Disorders / pathology
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred ICR
  • Phosphorylation
  • Scopolamine / toxicity
  • Signal Transduction / drug effects*
  • Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances / metabolism

Substances

  • 6,7,4'-trihydroxyisoflavone
  • Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor
  • Cholinergic Agents
  • Creb1 protein, mouse
  • Cyclic AMP Response Element-Binding Protein
  • Isoflavones
  • Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances
  • Malondialdehyde
  • daidzein
  • Scopolamine
  • Acetylcholinesterase