Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a common
neurodegenerative disorder that mainly affects the aged population and is characterized by the progressive loss of the hippocampal and cortical neurons, which results in memory and
cognitive impairments. Trigonella foenum-graecum (fenugreek) has been reported to have
hypoglycemic, hypocholesterolemic, hyperinsulinemic and anti-diabetic properties. Traditionally, it was used as a galactagogue and to treat
anorexia,
fever gastritis,
gastric ulcers, and various nervous disorders. However, the
neuroprotective effect of
fenugreek seed powder against
aluminum chloride (
AlCl3) induced AD rats has not been analyzed. The result of the present study indicated that the chronic administration of
AlCl3 induced significant learning and memory impairments, oxidative stress, and alterations in the
protein immunocontent patterns of IDE and CDK5 (
enzymes involved in the metabolism of tau and
amyloid proteins), pTau, GFAP and Iba-1, IL-1β,
IL-6, TNF-α, iNOS, NF-κB, COX-2, CDK5,
BDNF, and STAT3. Our behavioral, biochemical, and molecular studies revealed that the co-administration of
fenugreek seed powder significantly attenuated the
AlCl3 induced
memory deficits,
amyloid and tau pathology, oxidative stress, and
inflammation in AD rats could be due to the synergistic action of its active components.