Neuroprotective Role of Tocopherol Derivatives in Alzheimer’s Disease: Behavioral and Biochemical Analysis

Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) is a terminal disease that results from progressive loss of neurons in the brain leading to cognitive dysfunction, memory loss, and neuroinflammation. The purpose of this investigation was to establish the neurotrophic profile of a newly synthesized naphthalene tocopherol competitive to Vitamin E acetate in an AD mouse model. The learning and memory were examined by the following behavioral paradigms: Fear Conditioning Test, Barnes Maze Test, Elevated Plus Maze Test and Morris Water Maze Test. Immunohistochemical observations were made to assess markers of oxidative stress using MDA, SOD, and GSH and neuroinflammation using IL-6 and TNF-α. The effectiveness was evidenced through the reduction of oxidation stress, reducing cytokines that cause inflammation, and overall enhancements on cognitive functioning among the groups administered with the tocopherol derivative at the dosages of 20 mg/kg and 40 mg/kg. These findings indicate that tocopherol derivatives could indeed have a more robust neuroprotective activity than the standard Vitamin E with an application in the treatment of AD. Carrying out similar experiments in human would be another approach to confirm these findings as well as determine the molecular basis of their effects.