Effect of aqueous extract of Lavandula angustifolia on LTP induction in a rat model of Alzheimer disease

Bachground: Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder associated with deficits in synaptic plasticity. Long-term potentiation (LTP) is an experimental method for synaptic plasticity assessment. This study evaluated the effect of aqueous extract of lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) on induction of LTP in the CA1 region of hippocampus.
The animals were divided in 3 groups: Control animals receiving distilled water (CO), Alzheimer group receiving distilled water (AD); Alzheimer group receiving lavender extract (Aᅴ). The electrophysiological recordings were carried out in 3 groups of rats. The baseline or tetanized extracellular postsynaptic field potentials (fEPSPs) were recorded in response to the stimulation of Schaffer collaterals.
The data showed no effect of the extract on the baseline responses in all groups. While the recorded fEPSPs in the CO showed a substantial LTP, no potentiation was seen in the AD group. Administration of the aqueous extract of lavender effectively restored the LTP in Aᅴ group.
In line with our previous reports, this study showed the positive effect of lavender extract on the induction of LTP in a rat model of Alzheimer disease.