AUTHOR=Micheli Laura , Toti Alessandra , Lucarini Elena , Ferrara Valentina , Ciampi Clara , Olivero Guendalina , Pittaluga Anna , Mattoli Luisa , Pelucchini Caroline , Burico Michela , Lucci Jacopo , Carrino Donatello , Pacini Alessandra , Pallanti Stefano , Di Cesare Mannelli Lorenzo , Ghelardini Carla 

TITLE=Efficacy of a vegetal mixture composed of Zingiber officinale, Echinacea purpurea, and Centella asiatica in a mouse model of neuroinflammation: In vivo and ex vivo analysis

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Nutrition

VOLUME=Volume 9 - 2022

YEAR=2022

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/nutrition/articles/10.3389/fnut.2022.887378

DOI=10.3389/fnut.2022.887378

ISSN=2296-861X

ABSTRACT=Experimental evidences suggest that neuroinflammation is a key pathological event of many diseases affecting the nervous system. It has been well recognized that these devastating illnesses (e.g. Alzheimer, Parkinson, depression, chronic pain, etc) are multifactorial involving many pathogenic mechanisms, reason why pharmacological treatments are unsatisfactory. Aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of a vegetal mixture able to offer the multiple approach needed to manage the multifactoriality of neuroinflammation. A mixture composed by Zingiber officinale (150 mg/kg), Echinacea purpurea (20 mg/kg) and Centella asiatica (200 mg/kg) was tested in a mouse model of systemic neuroinflammation induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS, 1 mg/kg). Repeated treatment with the vegetal mixture was able to completely counteract thermal and mechanical allodynia as reported by the Cold plate and von Frey tests, respectively, and to reduce the motor impairments as demonstrated by the Rota rod test. Moreover, the mixture was capable to neutralize the memory loss in the Passive avoidance test and to reduce depressive-like behavior in the Porsolt test while no efficacy was shown in decreasing anhedonia as demonstrated by the Sucrose preference test. Finally, LPS stimulation caused a significant increase of glial cells activation as well as of central complement proteins in selected regions of central nervous system that are differently affected in treating animals with the vegetal mixture.
In conclusion, the vegetal mixture tested thwarted the plethora of symptoms evoked by LPS, being a candidate for future investigations in the context of neuroinflammation.