Background:Alzheimer's disease is a neurological dysfunction of the brain
caused by neurodegeneration and oxidative stress. Some viruses, such as herpes viruses,
HSV-1, and HSV-2, are causative agents of Alzheimer's disease and result in β-amyloid peptide
and tau protein accumulation in the brain. Some antiviral drugs, such as valacyclovir, acyclovir,
and foscarnet, reduce amyloid-beta and P-tau. Pavetta indica leaves are also reported for
their antiviral properties. The current study aimed to find out the significance of using
Pavetta indica methanolic extract and acyclovir against Alzheimer’s disease induced by streptozotocin.Methods:Wistar rats received acyclovir and Pavetta indica methanolic extract orally at different
dose ranges (50, 150, 450 mg/kg) and (125, 250, 500 mg/kg), respectively. The standard
therapy, Rivastigmine (2 mg/kg), was given orally.Results:Intracerebroventricular-streptozotocin produced significant alternations in behavioral
assessments, including locomotor activity test, Morris water maze test, and elevated
plus maze test. Moreover, intracerebroventricular-streptozotocin ameliorated the antioxidant
defense activity by decreasing levels of catalase, superoxide dismutase, and reduced
glutathione while enhancing the oxidative stress markers, including malondialdehyde, and total
nitrite levels. Finally, the main findings showed that intracerebroventricular-streptozotocin significantly
increased the inflammatory marker, tumor necrosis factor-α, and disturbed neurotransmitter
mediators, including levels of acetylcholinesterase, glutamate, and γ-amino butyric
acid.Conclusion:In a dose-dependent manner, acyclovir and Pavetta indica methanolic
extract treatments abrogated the streptozotocin-induced behavioral and neurological abnormalities
in rats. The potential therapeutic effects of PIME and acyclovir administration in
intracerebroventricular-streptozotocin-treated rats may be attributed to its potential
antiviral, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory effects. The current study suggests that Pavetta
indica methanolic extract and acyclovir are promising therapeutic targets against Alzheimer’s
disease.