Behavioral and Biochemical Evaluation of a Curcumin-Loaded Nano-Liposomal Formulation in a Scopolamine-Induced Mouse Model of Cognitive Impairment

Scopolamine-induced cognitive impairment in mice models acute cholinergic dysfunction associated with early functional features of Alzheimer's disease (AD). This study evaluated the neuroprotective potential of curcumin-loaded nanoliposomes (Cur-NL), a bioavailable curcumin formulation, using behavioral, molecular, and biochemical approaches. Male mice received oral Cur-NL (250, 500, or 1000 mg/kg) for 30 days, followed by a single intraperitoneal injection of scopolamine (2 mg/kg). Cognitive performance was assessed by the open field test and Barnes maze. Acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity, acetylcholine (ACh) levels, hippocampal gene expression, and reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation were analyzed to investigate underlying mechanisms. Cur-NL significantly improved spatial learning and memory and restored cholinergic balance by normalizing AChE activity and ACh levels. Treatment also attenuated hippocampal neuroinflammation, oxidative stress, and ROS accumulation. Cur-NL modulated genes related to amyloid processing and synaptic plasticity, suppressing App and Bace1 and upregulating Adam10 and Bdnf. Network analyses supported the involvement of cholinergic, inflammatory, and synaptic signaling pathways. These findings indicate that Cur-NL confers multitarget neuroprotection in a scopolamine-induced model and may serve as a candidate for managing early cholinergic-related cognitive decline. Important limitations should be acknowledged: curcumin concentrations in plasma and brain were not quantified, and a free-curcumin comparator was not included. The findings should therefore be interpreted as evidence of efficacy of the tested Cur-NL preparation, not as a comparative demonstration of nano-liposomal superiority over free curcumin. Direct pharmacokinetic and head-to-head comparative studies are required to establish the formulation-specific contribution of nano-liposomal delivery.