Research Projects

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease characterized by memory loss in people over 60. In India, approximately 5.3 million people have dementia associated with AD, with the number set to rise to 7.6 million in 2030. Treatment of AD remains a challenge in the medicine field, with the PI-3/Akt signaling pathway being a potential therapeutic window. Insulin resistance in AD downregulates the PI3-Akt pathway, promoting apoptosis, neuroinflammation, and oxidative damage, leading to the accumulation of Aβ and hyperphosphorylation of tau protein. Normalizing the damaged PI3K/Akt pathway could be a crucial treatment plan for AD. Ellagic acid (EA), a gallic acid derivative found in plant foods, exhibits potent antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-apoptotic activity. Studies have reported that EA showed protective effects in AD via PI3/Akt pathways, but the molecular mechanisms and genes involved are not yet elucidated. This study aims to uncover the comparative nutrigenomic profile of ellagic acid alone and its nano-formulation in an experimental animal model of ICV-STZ-induced AD. Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs) are ligand-dependent nuclear receptors widely distributed in the brain. PPAR-α agonists exert neuroprotective properties, reducing brain damage, neuroinflammation, and oxidative stress. The objective of this study is to elucidate the effect of saroglitazar in AD rats and explore the underlying mechanisms of action.