Description
Imperatorin is a furocoumarin that displays a wide variety of beneficial properties, including antihypertensive, vasodilatory, antioxidative, antibacterial, anti-parasitic, cognition enhancing, and neuroprotective activities. Imperatorin increases levels of catalase, xanthine oxidase, glutathione, NO, and NOS and decreases levels of angiotensin II in hypertensive rats. In vitro, imperatorin induces NO-regulated vasodilation in mouse thoracic aortic tissue. This compound is active against both gram positive and gram negative bacteria and also shows toxicity against Culex and Aedes mosquito larvae, indicating insecticide potential as well. In vitro, imperatorin inhibits caspase-3 and Bax expression and upregulates Bcl-2 and BDNF expression. In animal models of cerebral ischemia, imperatorin decreases infarct volume. Additionally, this compound inhibits voltage-gated Na+ channels in rat hippocampal neurons and displays inhibitory activity against both butyrlcholinesterase (BChE) and acetylcholinesterase (AChE). In animal models of Alzheimer’s disease, imperatorin improves memory acquisition and consolidation processes.