ZINGERONE AMELIORATE ALUMINIUM CHLORIDE AND D- GALACTOSE INDUCED MEMORY IMPAIRMENT THROUGH REGULATION OF HIPPOCAMPAL BDNF IN ALBINO WISTAR MICE.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) and other forms of dementia are significant public health challenges due to their increasing prevalence and lack of effective treatments. Among the major factors contributing to cognitive decline are oxidative stress, inflammation, and neurotoxicity, which lead to damage in crucial brain regions such as the hippocampus. This study was designed to investigate Zingerone’s ameliorative effect on Alcl3/D-galactose induced memory impairment through regulation of hippocampalBDNF in Albino Wistar mice. Twenty-eight (28) Wistar mice weighing between 20– 35 grams were obtained from the animal house of Human anatomy department, faculty of basic medical sciences, university of cross river state, Okuku campus. The animals were fed with commercial feed and water and maintained under standard conditions daily for two weeks before the commencement of the two (2) weeks administration of aluminium chloride and hesperidin. The animals were randomly grouped into 4 groups: 1, 2, 3, 4, each comprising ofseven (7) mice. GROUP 1: Control Group animals received water and food only, GROUP 2: Aluminium chloride + D- galactose group only, GROUP 3: Aluminium chloride + D-galactose + Zingerone group, GROUP 4: Aluminium chloride + D-galactose + Donepezil group. The results for % Alternation in Y-maze Test showed a significant (p < 0.05) decrease in the AlCl3/D-Gal group when compared to the normal control group. In contrast, there was a significant increase in AlCl3/D-Gal + Don10 group when compared to both the AlCl3/D-Gal + Zin100 group and the AlCl3/D-Gal group. The study demonstrated that Zingerone exerts a protective effect against AlCl₃/D-Gal-induced memory impairment in albino Wistar mice. This effect is mediated through its antioxidant properties and its ability to upregulate hippocampal BDNF levels, thereby supporting synaptic plasticity and cognitive functi