INVESTIGATION OF TANGERETIN-MEDIATED HIPPOCAMPAL ALTERATIONS IN A RAT MODEL OF AMNESIA

Neurodegenerative diseases represent a global health challenge, prompting increasing interest in natural compounds with safer therapeutic profiles. Among these, flavonoids have attracted particular attention due to their neuroprotective properties, which show considerable potential in the management of such disorders. In the present study, a rat model of scopolamine-induced amnesia was used to investigate the neuroprotective properties of tangeretin, a flavone found in citrus peel. The hippocampi of the animals were examined due to the critical role of this area in memory and learning processes. Rats were orally administered tangeretin at doses of 50 and 100 mg/kg for 14 days. Subsequently, Nissl staining and immunohistochemical labeling with anti-NeuN and anti-GFAP antibodies were performed to assess morphological changes and immunoreactivity in the hippocampal CA1, CA3, and dentate gyrus subregions. Scopolamine administration resulted in noticeable neuronal deficits in the animals, including a significant reduction in NeuN- and GFAP-positive cells, as well as weakened basophilicity of Nissl bodies and neuronal structural deterioration. Conversely, treatment with tangeretin successfully mitigated these impairments. Not only did it reverse the weakened neuronal proliferation, but it also significantly modified astroglial regression across all hippocampal subregions. By demonstrating beneficial effects on neurogenesis and glial plasticity, this study highlights the therapeutic potential of tangeretin. These results provide valuable information for developing interventions against diseases involving cognitive decline, establishing tangeretin as a promising candidate for further research into Alzheimer's disease and related disorders.