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Longan Aril polysaccharides ameliorate cognitive impairment in AD mice via restoration of the immune phagocytosis of microglia
Han Zhang, F.H. Tra Bi, Peng Zhao, Herong Cui, Xiaojun Tao, Jianghua Zhang, Chang Li, Yang Cao et al.. Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 2025-02-07
Topic: Brain proteins, microglia and lab models
LAPs contained five monosaccharides. LAPs improved cognitive function and increased the number of Nissl bodies, lactate secretion, the IL-10 content, the relative fluorescence intensity of the IBA1 and AXL proteins, and the protein expression levels of AXL, Mertk, Glut1, HK2, PI3K, p-Akt/Akt, p-mTOR/mTOR and HIF-1α of immune-tolerant AD mice. LAPs also reduced the TNF-α content, and the protein expression level of CD68 in immune-tolerant AD mice. In vitro, LAPs elevated the IL-10 content and protein expression levels of PI3K, Akt, p-Akt, and HIF-1α, while reducing lactate secretion and the TNF-α content in immune-tolerant BV2 cells. LAPs promoted the phagocytic activity of BV2 cells, and their effects are completely inhibited by 2-DG and partially inhibited by BAY and Rapa. LAPs can enhance the cognitive abilities of immune-tolerant AD mice and diminish their pathological damage. The mechanism involves the regulation of glycolysis and the PI3K/Akt/mTOR/HIF-1α signaling pathway to promote microglial immune phagocytosis.
Key findings
- LAPs improved cognitive function and increased the number of Nissl bodies, lactate secretion, the IL-10 content, the relative fluorescence intensity of the IBA1 and AXL proteins, and the protein expression levels of AXL, Mertk, Glut1, HK2, PI3K, p-Akt/Akt, p-mTOR/mTOR and HIF-1α of immune-tolerant AD mice.
- LAPs also reduced the TNF-α content, and the protein expression level of CD68 in immune-tolerant AD mice.
- In vitro, LAPs elevated the IL-10 content and protein expression levels of PI3K, Akt, p-Akt, and HIF-1α, while reducing lactate secretion and the TNF-α content in immune-tolerant BV2 cells.
- LAPs promoted the phagocytic activity of BV2 cells, and their effects are completely inhibited by 2-DG and partially inhibited by BAY and Rapa.
- LAPs can enhance the cognitive abilities of immune-tolerant AD mice and diminish their pathological damage.
Why it matters
In a mouse model of Alzheimer's disease, polysaccharides from longan fruit improved cognitive performance and reduced pathological damage, apparently by promoting microglial phagocytosis through glycolysis and the PI3K/Akt/mTOR/HIF-1α pathway. These are animal and cell findings that have not been tested in people.
Study details
- Evidence strengthLow
How this study scored 41/100
Published in a peer-reviewed journal. Scored zero for study design, sample size, effect reported and randomised / blinded because the record does not state it.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 7 / 10 | Tier 3 — peer-reviewed journal (Journal of Ethnopharmacology) |
| Journal's citation record | 3 / 4 | Journal of Ethnopharmacology: journal h-index 306 (OpenAlex, 2026-10-29) |
| Study design | 0 / 12 | No study design recorded — scores zero, not guessed (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Strength of evidence | 1 / 5 | Rated “low” in our summary |
| Peer-review validation | 10 / 10 | Peer-reviewed. Published as an article in a named peer-reviewed journal. |
| How recent | 4 / 5 | 2025 — within 3 year(s) of the newest study here |
| Sample size | 0 / 4 | Participant count not stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Effect reported | 0 / 3 | No effect size reported — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Studied in people | 0 / 3 | Laboratory or animal study (title names “mice”) — scores zero |
| Randomised / blinded | 0 / 2 | No randomisation or blinding stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Times cited | 2 / 7 | Cited 13 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 2 / 5 | 4.3 citations a year over 3 year(s) since 2025 |
| Impact for its field and year | 3 / 6 | Cited 7.1× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 0 / 6 | No other study in this library cites it |
| Still being cited | 1 / 4 | Cited 13 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 3 / 4 | Last-listed author Hongyan Li: h-index 60 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 0 / 3 | Beijing University of Chinese Medicine: institution h-index 298 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 1 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 3 institution(s) in 1 country |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 39923958) |
| Free to read | 2 / 2 | Free to read |
| Total | 41 / 100 | — |
What each of these 20 components measures, and what this score is not →
Read the original
- DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2025.119464
- PubMed: 39923958
- Original source →
- Free full text: Journal of Ethnopharmacology →
Full text: free to read — OpenAlex lists this copy as free to read: the link above (checked 6 Feb 1020).
Cite this study APA, Vancouver, BibTeX · download .bib or .ris
Built from the record alzhub holds for this paper, not looked up. Volume, issue and page numbers are not held in the record. The record's author list ends in “et al.”, so not every author is named. Check the citation against the original before you use it.
APA 7th
Zhang, H., Bi, F. T., Zhao, P., Cui, H., Tao, X., Zhang, J., et al. (2025). Longan Aril polysaccharides ameliorate cognitive impairment in AD mice via restoration of the immune phagocytosis of microglia. Journal of Ethnopharmacology. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jep.2025.119464
Vancouver
Zhang H, Bi FT, Zhao P, Cui H, Tao X, Zhang J, et al. Longan Aril polysaccharides ameliorate cognitive impairment in AD mice via restoration of the immune phagocytosis of microglia. Journal of Ethnopharmacology. 2025. doi:10.1016/j.jep.2025.119464. PMID: 39923958.
BibTeX
@article{zhang2025-39923958,
author = {Zhang, Han and Bi, F.H. Tra and Zhao, Peng and Cui, Herong and Tao, Xiaojun and Zhang, Jianghua and Li, Chang and Cao, Yang and others},
title = {{Longan Aril polysaccharides ameliorate cognitive impairment in AD mice via restoration of the immune phagocytosis of microglia}},
journal = {Journal of Ethnopharmacology},
year = {2025},
doi = {10.1016/j.jep.2025.119464},
pmid = {39923958},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jep.2025.119464}
}
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