Xanthohumol promotes cognitive function-associated neuroprotein changes in two mouse models of Alzheimer’s disease

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disorder that progressively impairs cognitive function for which there is no effective treatment. Natural dietary compounds such as xanthohumol (Xn) potentially offer a new therapeutic approach in AD. We aim to employ quantitative proteomic techniques to investigate the effects of Xn on cognitive impairment in two established murine models of AD. Treatment with 0.5mg/kg Xn significantly improved the ability of stimulating learning and memory and cognitive function of 3×Tg AD mice while 5mg/kg Xn ameliorated cognitive decline in APP/PS1 mice. We identified two common differential proteins and 12 pathways in the hippocampi of 3×Tg AD mice and 70 common differential proteins and 22 pathways in APP/PS1 mice. Moreover, Nine common signaling pathways mainly involved in energy metabolism, neurodegenerative disease, cardiovascular disease and cancer. So multi high-throughput proteomic analyses of hippocampus add to the scientific basis for development of effective drugs for AD, one candidate of which is Xn.