Anthocyanins from Lycium ruthenicum Murr. Ameliorated D-Galactose-Induced Memory Impairment, Oxidative Stress, and Neuroinflammation in Adult Rats

Lycium ruthenicum Murr. (LR) is a perennial shrub commonly used as a nutritional food and medicine. Herein, we identified 12 anthocyanins from LR, with petunidin derivatives constituting approximately 97% of the total anthocyanin content. Furthermore, the potential mechanism of anthocyanins exerting neuroprotective effects in D-galactose (D-gal)-treated rats was explored. Behavioral results showed that anthocyanins relieved D-gal-induced memory disorder. Additionally, anthocyanins reduced receptor for advanced glycation end products (RAGE) and suppressed oxidative stress caused by D-gal. Anthocyanins suppressed microgliosis and astrocytosis and reduced the overexpression of nuclear factor kappa B (NF-kappa B), interleukin-1-beta (IL-1 beta)cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha). Moreover, anthocyanins lowered C-jun N-terminal kinase (p-JNK), caspase-3 levels, and the B-cell lymphoma 2-associated X protein/B-cell lymphoma 2 (Bax/Bcl2) ratio. Thus, anthocyanins from LR attenuated memory disfunction, neuroinflammation, and neurodegeneration caused by D-gal, possibly through the RAGE/NF-kappa B/JNK pathway, representing a promising, safe candidate for prevention and therapy of neurodegenerative diseases.