Memory-Enhancing Effects of the Crude Extract of Polygala tenuifolia on Aged Mice
Learning and memory disorders arise from distinct age-associated processes, and aging animals are often used as a model of memory impairment. The root of Polygala tenuifolia has been commonly used in some Asian countries as memory enhancer and its memory improvement has been reported in various anim...
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doaj-99f312f4f773455e8a45c3881b0bd62a2020-11-25T00:44:47ZengHindawi LimitedEvidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine1741-427X1741-42882014-01-01201410.1155/2014/392324392324Memory-Enhancing Effects of the Crude Extract of Polygala tenuifolia on Aged MiceZongyang Li0Yamin Liu1Liwei Wang2Xinmin Liu3Qi Chang4Zhi Guo5Yonghong Liao6Ruile Pan7Tai-Ping Fan8Institute of Medicinal Plant Development, Chinese Academy of Medical Science, Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100193, ChinaInstitute of Medicinal Plant Development, Chinese Academy of Medical Science, Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100193, ChinaInstitute of Medicinal Plant Development, Chinese Academy of Medical Science, Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100193, ChinaInstitute of Medicinal Plant Development, Chinese Academy of Medical Science, Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100193, ChinaInstitute of Medicinal Plant Development, Chinese Academy of Medical Science, Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100193, ChinaInstitute of Medicinal Plant Development, Chinese Academy of Medical Science, Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100193, ChinaInstitute of Medicinal Plant Development, Chinese Academy of Medical Science, Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100193, ChinaInstitute of Medicinal Plant Development, Chinese Academy of Medical Science, Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100193, ChinaDepartment of Pharmacology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 1PD, UKLearning and memory disorders arise from distinct age-associated processes, and aging animals are often used as a model of memory impairment. The root of Polygala tenuifolia has been commonly used in some Asian countries as memory enhancer and its memory improvement has been reported in various animal models. However, there is less research to verify its effect on memory functions in aged animals. Herein, the memory-enhancing effects of the crude extract of Polygala tenuifolia (EPT) on normal aged mice were assessed by Morris water maze (MWM) and step-down passive avoidance tests. In MWM tests, the impaired spatial memory of the aged mice was partly reversed by EPT (100 and 200 mg/kg; P < 0.05) as compared with the aged control mice. In step-down tests, the nonspatial memory of the aged mice was improved by EPT (100 and 200 mg/kg; P < 0.05). Additionally, EPT could increase superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) activities, inhibit monoamine oxidase (MAO) and acetyl cholinesterase (AChE) activities, and decrease the levels of malondialdehyde (MDA) in the brain tissue of the aged mice. The results showed that EPT improved memory functions of the aged mice probably via its antioxidant properties and via decreasing the activities of MAO and AChE.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2014/392324 |
collection |
DOAJ |
language |
English |
format |
Article |
sources |
DOAJ |
author |
Zongyang Li Yamin Liu Liwei Wang Xinmin Liu Qi Chang Zhi Guo Yonghong Liao Ruile Pan Tai-Ping Fan |
spellingShingle |
Zongyang Li Yamin Liu Liwei Wang Xinmin Liu Qi Chang Zhi Guo Yonghong Liao Ruile Pan Tai-Ping Fan Memory-Enhancing Effects of the Crude Extract of Polygala tenuifolia on Aged Mice Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine |
author_facet |
Zongyang Li Yamin Liu Liwei Wang Xinmin Liu Qi Chang Zhi Guo Yonghong Liao Ruile Pan Tai-Ping Fan |
author_sort |
Zongyang Li |
title |
Memory-Enhancing Effects of the Crude Extract of Polygala tenuifolia on Aged Mice |
title_short |
Memory-Enhancing Effects of the Crude Extract of Polygala tenuifolia on Aged Mice |
title_full |
Memory-Enhancing Effects of the Crude Extract of Polygala tenuifolia on Aged Mice |
title_fullStr |
Memory-Enhancing Effects of the Crude Extract of Polygala tenuifolia on Aged Mice |
title_full_unstemmed |
Memory-Enhancing Effects of the Crude Extract of Polygala tenuifolia on Aged Mice |
title_sort |
memory-enhancing effects of the crude extract of polygala tenuifolia on aged mice |
publisher |
Hindawi Limited |
series |
Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine |
issn |
1741-427X 1741-4288 |
publishDate |
2014-01-01 |
description |
Learning and memory disorders arise from distinct age-associated processes, and aging animals are often used as a model of memory impairment. The root of Polygala tenuifolia has been commonly used in some Asian countries as memory enhancer and its memory improvement has been reported in various animal models. However, there is less research to verify its effect on memory functions in aged animals. Herein, the memory-enhancing effects of the crude extract of Polygala tenuifolia (EPT) on normal aged mice were assessed by Morris water maze (MWM) and step-down passive avoidance tests. In MWM tests, the impaired spatial memory of the aged mice was partly reversed by EPT (100 and 200 mg/kg; P < 0.05) as compared with the aged control mice. In step-down tests, the nonspatial memory of the aged mice was improved by EPT (100 and 200 mg/kg; P < 0.05). Additionally, EPT could increase superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) activities, inhibit monoamine oxidase (MAO) and acetyl cholinesterase (AChE) activities, and decrease the levels of malondialdehyde (MDA) in the brain tissue of the aged mice. The results showed that EPT improved memory functions of the aged mice probably via its antioxidant properties and via decreasing the activities of MAO and AChE. |
url |
http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2014/392324 |
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