Loss of NRF2 accelerates cognitive decline, exacerbates mitochondrial dysfunction, and is required for the cognitive enhancing effects of Centella asiatica during aging.

ABSTRACT: The water extract of Centella asiatica (CAW) improves cognitive and mitochondrial function and activates the nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (NRF2) regulated antioxidant response pathway in aged mice. Here we investigate whether NRF2 activation is required for the cognitive and mitochondrial effects of prolonged CAW exposure during aging. Five-month-old NRF2 knockout (NRF2KO) and wild-type mice were treated with CAW for 1, 7, or 13 months. Each cohort underwent cognitive testing and hippocampal mitochondrial analyses. Age-related cognitive decline was accelerated in NRF2KO mice and while CAW treatment improved cognitive performance in wild-type mice, it had no effect on NRF2KO animals. Hippocampal mitochondrial function also declined further with age in NRF2KO mice and greater

SUBMITTER: Zweig JA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7920997 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature