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Propyl Gallate Attenuates Methylglyoxal-Induced Alzheimer-like Cognitive Deficits and Neuroinflammation in Mice
Hui‐Yun Tsai, Jing Yi Qiu, Han-Wei Liao, Chi‐I Chang, Yu-Hsiang Chen, Yu-Hsiang Chen, Chi‐Tang Ho, Yu-Kuo Chen et al.. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 2026-01-04
Topic: Brain proteins, microglia and lab models
Methylglyoxal (MG), a reactive dicarbonyl metabolite associated with diabetes and metabolic disorders, contributes to carbonyl stress, neuroinflammation, and Alzheimer-like neurodegeneration. This study investigated the neuroprotective effects of propyl gallate (PG), a phenolic antioxidant widely used as a food additive, against MG-induced cognitive impairment in mice. Male C57BL/6J mice were exposed to 1% MG in drinking water for eight weeks and orally administered PG (20, 40, or 100 mg/kg/d). Behavioral tests demonstrated that PG significantly improved spatial learning and recognition memory and alleviated anxiety-like behavior induced by MG. Histological and biochemical analyses revealed that PG reduced hippocampal neuronal damage, suppressed tau hyperphosphorylation and amyloid-β (Aβ) accumulation, and attenuated the overexpression of pro-inflammatory cytokines TNF-α and IL-6. Furthermore, PG increased PI3K expression and Akt phosphorylation while reducing activation of GSK-3β, counteracting the MG-induced suppression of this pathway and aligning with reduced tau hyperphosphorylation. These findings indicate that PG protects against MG-related cognitive dysfunction through modulation of neuroinflammatory responses and survival-related signaling pathways, highlighting its potential as a neuroprotective dietary antioxidant for metabolic stress-associated neurodegenerative disorders.
Cite this study APA, Vancouver, BibTeX · download .bib or .ris
APA 7th
Tsai, H., Qiu, J. Y., Liao, H.-W., Chang, C., Chen, Y.-H., Ho, C., et al. (2026). Propyl Gallate Attenuates Methylglyoxal-Induced Alzheimer-like Cognitive Deficits and Neuroinflammation in Mice. International Journal of Molecular Sciences. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms27010511
Vancouver
Tsai H, Qiu JY, Liao H.-W, Chang C, Chen Y.-H, Ho C, et al. Propyl Gallate Attenuates Methylglyoxal-Induced Alzheimer-like Cognitive Deficits and Neuroinflammation in Mice. International Journal of Molecular Sciences. 2026. doi:10.3390/ijms27010511. PMID: 41516384.
BibTeX
@article{tsai2026-41516384,
author = {Tsai, Hui‐Yun and Qiu, Jing Yi and Liao, Han-Wei and Chang, Chi‐I and Chen, Yu-Hsiang and Ho, Chi‐Tang and Chen, Yu-Kuo and others},
title = {{Propyl Gallate Attenuates Methylglyoxal-Induced Alzheimer-like Cognitive Deficits and Neuroinflammation in Mice}},
journal = {International Journal of Molecular Sciences},
year = {2026},
doi = {10.3390/ijms27010511},
pmid = {41516384},
url = {https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms27010511}
}
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.
Key findings
- Methylglyoxal (MG), a reactive dicarbonyl metabolite associated with diabetes and metabolic disorders, contributes to carbonyl stress, neuroinflammation, and Alzheimer-like neurodegeneration.
- Behavioral tests demonstrated that PG significantly improved spatial learning and recognition memory and alleviated anxiety-like behavior induced by MG.
- Histological and biochemical analyses revealed that PG reduced hippocampal neuronal damage, suppressed tau hyperphosphorylation and amyloid-β (Aβ) accumulation, and attenuated the overexpression of pro-inflammatory cytokines TNF-α and IL-6.
- These findings indicate that PG protects against MG-related cognitive dysfunction through modulation of neuroinflammatory responses and survival-related signaling pathways, highlighting its potential as a neuroprotective dietary antioxidant for metabolic stress-associated neurodegenerative disorders.
Why it matters
In mice given methylglyoxal to mimic metabolic stress, propyl gallate improved learning and memory and reduced tau hyperphosphorylation, amyloid-beta accumulation, and inflammatory cytokines. These are animal findings, so it is not known whether this food-additive antioxidant helps people with Alzheimer's disease.
Study details
- Evidence strengthLow
How this study scored 42/100
Published in a peer-reviewed journal. Scored zero for study design, sample size, effect reported and randomized / blinded because the record does not state it. We have no data on senior author's track record, so that was left out: it earned 40 of the 96 points we could judge it on, which is 42 out of 100.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 7 / 10 | Tier 3 — peer-reviewed journal (International Journal of Molecular Sciences) |
| Journal's citation record | 3 / 4 | International Journal of Molecular Sciences: journal h-index 426 (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 | 5 / 5 | 2026 — within 1 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 |
| Randomized / blinded | 0 / 2 | No randomization or blinding stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Times cited | 1 / 7 | Cited 4 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 1 / 5 | 2.0 citations a year over 2 year(s) since 2026 |
| Impact for its field and year | 4 / 6 | Cited 16.6× 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 4 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | — / 4 | OpenAlex's profile for last-listed author Yu-Kuo Chen holds only 2 work(s), too few to judge a track record — left out of this score |
| Institution's track record | 1 / 3 | Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey: institution h-index 1,147 (OpenAlex) |
| Multicenter collaboration | 2 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 4 institution(s) in 2 countries |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 41516384) |
| Free to read | 2 / 2 | Free to read |
| Points | 40 / 96 | Scored on 19 of 20 parts. We have no data for the rest, so they are left out: 40 of the 96 points we could judge it on is 42 out of 100. |
| Total | 42 / 100 | — |
What each of these 20 components measures, and what this score is not →
Read the original
- DOI: 10.3390/ijms27010511
- PubMed: 41516384
- Original source →
- Free full text: International Journal of Molecular Sciences →
Full text: free to read — OpenAlex lists this copy as free to read: the link above (checked 6 Feb 1020).
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