Therapeutic Potential of Cannabidiol in Alleviating Cognitive Decline and Hippocampal Damage in a Rat Model of Alzheimer's Disease

Authors

  • Sreenivasulu Sura Department of Human Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang, Selangor, MALAYSIA https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5425-3634
  • Thirupathirao Vishnumukkala Department of Human Biology, IMU, Kuala Lumpur, MALAYSIA https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9517-3726
  • Siti Saleha Masrudin Department of Human Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang, Selangor, MALAYSIA https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4902-2935
  • Mohamad Aris Mohd Moklas Department of Human Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang, Selangor, MALAYSIA https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9282-129X
  • Mohd Amir Kamaruzzaman Department of Human Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang, Selangor, MALAYSIA https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4163-2234
  • Krishna Chaitanya Reddy Dandala Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, MAHSA University, Jenjarom, Selangor, MALAYSIA https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0812-1272
  • Ravindranadh Gandrakota Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, MAHSA University, Jenjarom, Selangor, MALAYSIA https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2810-4242
  • Nurul Huda Mohd Nor Department of Human Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang, Selangor, MALAYSIA https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8136-5604

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.22452/mjs.vol44sp1.14

Keywords:

Alzheimer’s disease, Cannabidiol, Cognitive deficits, Hippocampus, Neurotherapeutic effects

Abstract

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a common neurodegenerative disorder marked by progressive cognitive decline. Due to its effects on cognitive functioning and hippocampal integrity, the combined treatment of D-galactose (D-gal) and Aluminium chloride (AlCl3) in rats is a widely used model for producing AD-like symptoms. Previous studies demonstrated that Cannabidiol (CBD) exhibits neurotherapeutic effects. This study examines the efficacy of CBD in reducing cognitive deficits and brain ultrastructural damage induced by D-gal and AlCl3. Male Wistar rats were treated with D-gal (60 mg/kg body weight/day) and AlCl3 (200 mg/kg body weight/day) for 10 weeks to induce AD-like symptoms, followed by CBD administration at doses of 20, 40, and 80 mg/kg/day. Donepezil (1 mg/kg body weight/day) served as a positive control. Cognitive performance was evaluated using the modified elevated plus maze and T-maze spontaneous alternation tests. Ultrastructural changes in the hippocampus were examined using transmission electron microscopy. Rats exposed to D-gal and AlCl3 exhibited significant cognitive impairments, including deficits in spatial learning and memory, as well as hippocampal ultrastructural damage. The results indicated that D-gal and AlCl3 exposure produced notable cognitive deficits and structural alterations in the hippocampus. Administration of CBD at all doses significantly enhanced cognitive function and reduced pathological changes, providing protective effects comparable to donepezil. These findings support CBD's potential as a neurotherapeutic compound for mitigating cognitive decline and hippocampal damage associated with AD.

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Published

12-12-2025

How to Cite

Sreenivasulu Sura, Thirupathirao Vishnumukkala, Siti Saleha Masrudin, Mohamad Aris Mohd Moklas, Mohd Amir Kamaruzzaman, Krishna Chaitanya Reddy Dandala, Ravindranadh Gandrakota, & Nurul Huda Mohd Nor. (2025). Therapeutic Potential of Cannabidiol in Alleviating Cognitive Decline and Hippocampal Damage in a Rat Model of Alzheimer’s Disease. Malaysian Journal of Science (MJS), 44(sp1), 89–96. https://doi.org/10.22452/mjs.vol44sp1.14

Issue

Vol. 44 No. sp1 (2025): Special Issue: MAHSA International Medical Sciences and Technology Conference (Mi-Med) 2024

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Special Issue - Mi-Med 2024

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