Work

Effect of Rhodiola rosea L. Extract on Alzheimer’s Disease-like Symptoms in Caenorhabditis elegans

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder characterized by cognitive decline, oxidative stress, and amyloid-beta accumulation. Natural products with antioxidant and stress-response-modulating properties are increasingly being investigated as candidate neuroprotective agents. In this study, we evaluated the effects of Rhodiola rosea L. extract, salidroside, and rosavin in Caenorhabditis elegans models of AD. Phenotypic, behavioral, biochemical, and molecular assays were used to assess locomotion, egg-laying, chemotaxis, reactive oxygen species (ROS), gene expression, and amyloid-like aggregation. The extract and its related compounds improved locomotor performance, partially rescued reproductive and sensory defects, reduced ROS accumulation, modulated stress-response genes including skn-1/nrf2, daf-2, and sod-1, and decreased thioflavin-S-positive aggregates. Together, these findings support the neuroprotective potential of R. rosea extract and its key marker compounds suggesting the involvement of conserved antioxidant pathways.

Source: International Journal of Molecular Sciences

DOI: 10.3390/ijms27198701

Authors: Aina Bellver-Sanchis, Christian Griñán-Ferré, Sylvain Sutour, Andrey S. Marchev

Language: English

Topic: Medicinal Plants and Bioactive Compounds

Subfield: Complementary and alternative medicine

Field: Medicine

Domain: Health Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $3,499

Funder: Bulgarian National Science Fund