Neuroprotective effects of Tacca chantrieri Andre against lipopolysaccharide-induced cognitive impairment and neuroinflammation

Introduction: Tacca chantrieri Andre is frequently used by traditional healers to alleviate pain and fever, primirily by reducing inflammation. Its rhizome extract possesses remarkable peripheral anti-inflammatory and antioxidant bioactivities. However, there is limited information available regarding its potential anti-neuroinflammation effects. This study aimes to assess the neuroprotective effects of T. chantrieri rhizome ethanol extract (TCE) against lipopolysaccharides (LPS)-induced neuroinflammation. Methods: Rats were orally administered with TCE at doses of 50, 100, and 200 mg/kg continually for 9 days. On the 7th day of treatment, each rat received a single intraperitoneal injection of LPS (0.83 mg/kg). Cognitive performance was assessed using the Y-maze test and novel object recognition (NOR) test. Thereafter, the proinflammatory cytokine level in the hippocampus was measured by ELISA. Results: Systemic LPS administration induced sickness behavior, cognitive impairment, and neuroinflammation. TCE at doses of 100 and 200 mg/kg reversed the LPS-induced behavioral deficits, showing improvements in spontaneous alternation in the Y-maze test and discrimination index in the NOR test. Additionally, pretreatment with TCE at doses of 100 and 200 mg/kg significantly attenuated the LPS-induced increase in protein expression of TNF-α. Conclusion: TCE exhibited neuroprotective effects against LPS-induced cognitive deficits and suppressed the production of pro-inflammatory mediators in a dose-dependent manner. These findings indicate that TCE may hold therapeutic potential in preventing neuroinflammation associated cognitive impairment. However, further studies are necessary to validate the possible mechanisms of its neuroprotective effects.