Variable neuroprotective role of Filipendula ulmaria extract in rat hippocampus

We evaluated the influence of an antioxidant-rich extract of Filipen-dula ulmaria L. on anxiety levels induced by nano-sized particles of different calcium phosphates. Rats in experimental groups were ad -ministered with either nano-sized hydroxyapatite, tricalcium phos-phate, or amorphous calcium phosphate in the presence of Filipen-dula ulmaria extract. Appropriate behavioral tests were performed to assess anxiety levels, while oxidative status and apoptosis pa-rameters were determined in the hippocampus samples. The ap-plied calcium phosphates increased oxidative stress markers in hip-pocampal tissue, accompanied by an enhanced pro-apoptotic mech-anism. Moreover, the hippocampal immunoreactivity for brain-derived neurotrophic factor and GABAergic-A receptors was signifi-cantly lower following calcium phosphate nanoparticles intake. The observed functional and morphological alterations in the rat hip-pocampus occurredsimultaneously with the anxiogenic response es-timated in behavioral testing. The neuroprotective effect of Filipen-dula ulmaria was markedly manifested bythe attenuation of oxidative damage induced by amorphous calcium phosphate and enhanced anti-apoptotic action in the rat hippocampus. The increased hip-pocampal immunoreactivity for brain-derived neurotrophic factor, GABAergic-A receptors and significant anxiolytic-like effects of Fil-ipendula ulmaria may suggest a beneficial role of antioxidant supple-mentation in preventing anxiogenic response to nano-sized calcium phosphates.

Automated summary

The study found that the antioxidant-rich extract of Filipendula ulmaria can significantly reduce oxidative damage induced by nano-sized calcium phosphates and exert anti-apoptotic effects, thereby reducing anxiety levels and potentially playing a positive role in preventing anxiety responses.