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Jae-Jun Heo, Young-Eun Han, Min Soo Kim, Eunji Cheong, Chun Whan Choi, Soo-Jin Oh (Yonsei University)

Phytotherapy Research (2025)

Suffruticosol B: specific chemical compounds natural products found in the medicinal plant Paeonia suffruticosa (tree peony), and known for potential health benefits.

MAO-B Activity: function of Monoamine Oxidase B, an enzyme that breaks down neurotransmitters like dopamine and plays a role in oxidative stress, influencing neurological health, aging, and conditions like Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s diseases

Abstract:

• The study tested whether Suf-B alleviates Alzheimer’s disease (AD) pathology by inhibiting MAO-B in reactive astrocytes.
• Suf-B’s effects – assessed through enzyme assays, behavioral tests, immunohistochemistry, and electrophysiology in an AD mouse model.
• Suf-B significantly inhibited MAO-B activity without cytotoxicity and reduced astrocyte reactivity and abnormal GABA production → restored cognitive function in AD mice, suggesting therapeutic potential.

Findings:

• Suf-B effectively inhibits MAO-B, a target linked to astrocyte-mediated GABA overproduction in AD.
• Suf-B reduced reactive astrogliosis and abnormal tonic GABA release that ends neuronal activity.
• Behavioral tests (e.g., maze and object recognition) showed improved cognitive performance after Suf-B treatment.
• Electrophysiology confirmed that Suf-B normalized neuronal inhibition in the hippocampus.

Conclusion:

• Suf-B → neuroprotective efficacy in an AD mouse model by targeting MAO-B.
• Alleviates AD pathology by reducing astrocyte reactivity and excessive GABA-mediated neuronal inhibition.
• Cognitive function was restored in experimented mice → potential for AD therapy.
• Results support further development of Suf-B as a candidate treatment for AD and other diseases involving reactive astrogliosis.