Tenuigenin treatment improves behavioral Y-maze learning by enhancing synaptic plasticity in mice.
Behav Brain Res
; 246: 111-5, 2013 Jun 01.
Article
in En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-23499702
ABSTRACT
Polygala tenuifolia root has been used to improve memory and cognitive function in Traditional Chinese Medicine for more than 2000 years. Since tenuigenin (TEN) is one of the most utilized P. tenuifolia root extracts, it is surprising there is no evidence for the effects of TEN on learning and memory so far. In the present study, we investigated the effects of TEN on learning and memory with Y-maze test in mice. We found that oral administration of 4mg/kg TEN significantly improved learning and memory in Y-maze task. Treatment with 4mg/kg TEN markedly reduced the acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity and malondialdehyde (MDA) level, and increased superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity in hippocampus. In the electrophysiological test of hippocampal brain slice, 2µg/ml TEN perfusion substantially enhanced field excitatory postsynaptic potential (fEPSP) amplitude both in basic synaptic transmission and after high frequency stimulation (HFS) in Schaffer to CA1 pathway (Scha-CA1). These results indicate that TEN enhancing learning and memory may result from inhibiting AChE activity, improving antioxidation and enhancing synaptic plasticity in mice. Therefore, TEN shows promise as a potential nootropic product in improving learning and memory.
Full text:
1
Collection:
01-internacional
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Drugs, Chinese Herbal
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Nootropic Agents
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Maze Learning
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Excitatory Postsynaptic Potentials
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Memory
Limits:
Animals
Language:
En
Journal:
Behav Brain Res
Year:
2013
Document type:
Article
Affiliation country:
China