Triptolide preserves cognitive function and reduces neuropathology in a mouse model of Alzheimer's disease

The overarching goal of this study was to investigate the effects of triptolide, a lipophilic extract and the major active compound isolated from Tripterygium wilfordii Hook, on AD-like behavior and neuropathology in APPswe/PS1deltaE9 (APP/PS1) mice. Triptolide is a traditional Chinese medicinal herb that has been used to treat inflammatory diseases for centuries. The results demonstrate that triptolide treatment rescued spatial memory deficits, reduced Abeta deposition, and attenuated neuroinflammation in this mouse model of AD.  The data indicate tha6t triptolide treatment did not significantly affect the production pathway of Aβ in vivo.  Analyses revealed that triptolide treatment upregulated the level of insulin-degrading enzyme, a major Aβ-degrading enzyme in the brain, indicating that triptolide treatment reduced Aβ pathology by enhancing the proteolytic degradation of Aβ. These findings suggest that triptolide treatment ameliorates key behavioral and neuropathological changes found in AD, suggesting that triptolide may serve as a potential therapeutic agent for AD.