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Planta Med 2020; 86(18): 1389-1399
DOI: 10.1055/a-1212-3212
Biological and Pharmacological Activity
Original Papers

Extract of the Aerial Part of Polygala tenuifolia Attenuates d-Galactose/NaNO2-induced Learning and Memory Impairment in Mice

Dian Zhang
Key Laboratory of Resource Biology and Biotechnology in Western China, Ministry of Education, Northwest University, Xiʼan, China
,
Xiao Wang
Key Laboratory of Resource Biology and Biotechnology in Western China, Ministry of Education, Northwest University, Xiʼan, China
,
Rong Li
Key Laboratory of Resource Biology and Biotechnology in Western China, Ministry of Education, Northwest University, Xiʼan, China
,
Lin Wang
Key Laboratory of Resource Biology and Biotechnology in Western China, Ministry of Education, Northwest University, Xiʼan, China
,
Zihao Zhou
Key Laboratory of Resource Biology and Biotechnology in Western China, Ministry of Education, Northwest University, Xiʼan, China
,
Qi Fu
Key Laboratory of Resource Biology and Biotechnology in Western China, Ministry of Education, Northwest University, Xiʼan, China
,
Yanjun Cao
Key Laboratory of Resource Biology and Biotechnology in Western China, Ministry of Education, Northwest University, Xiʼan, China
,
Minfeng Fang
Key Laboratory of Resource Biology and Biotechnology in Western China, Ministry of Education, Northwest University, Xiʼan, China
› Author AffiliationsSupported by: the Shaanxi Provincial Education Department Serves Local Special Projects 2018JC032
Supported by: the open funding of Key Laboratory of Resource Biology and Biotechnology in Western China, Ministry of Education, Northwest University ZSK2018006
Supported by: the Key Research and Development Plan in Shaanxi province 2018ZDXM-SF-014
Supported by: the Public health specialty in the Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2018-43
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Abstract

Alzheimerʼs disease, one of the most common types of age-related dementia, is characterized by memory deterioration and behavior disorder. The aboveground part of Polygala tenuifolia is a traditional Chinese medicine used for the treatment of amnesia. This study was conducted to investigate the ameliorating effect of the aerial part of P. tenuifolia on d-galactose/NaNO2-induced learning and memory impairment in mice. d-galactose (120 mg/kg) and NaNO2 (90 mg/kg) were injected intraperitoneally for 60 days to induce learning and memory impairment in mice. The aerial part of P. tenuifolia (25, 50, and 100 mg/kg) and piracetam (200 mg/kg) were simultaneously administered orally on days 15 – 60. Results of this study showed that aerial part of P. tenuifolia significantly decreased the latency time and increased the number of platform crossings in the Morris water maze compared with the Model group. Moreover, the aerial part of P. tenuifolia significantly increased the latency time and decreased the error frequency in the step-down and step-through tests compared with the Model group. Meanwhile, the aerial part of P. tenuifolia was able to regulate the cholinergic system by increasing the levels of ACh and ChAT and decreasing the level of AChe. The aerial part of P. tenuifolia also significantly attenuated the levels of interleukin-1 beta and malonaldehyde and enhanced the interleukin-10 and glutathione levels and superoxide dismutase activity. Furthermore, treatment with aerial part of P. tenuifolia increased the protein and mRNA expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor and tropomyosin receptor kinase B in the hippocampus. These results suggest that the aerial part of P. tenuifolia can ameliorate learning and memory impairments by modulating cholinergic activity, inhibiting neuroinflammation and oxidative stress, and regulating the brain-derived neurotrophic factor and tropomyosin receptor kinase B signaling pathway.

Key words

Polygala tenuifolia - Alzheimerʼs disease - cholinergic - neuroinflammation - oxidative stress - BDNF/TrkB


Publication History

Received: 16 December 2019

Accepted after revision: 02 July 2020

Article published online:
14 August 2020

© 2020. Thieme. All rights reserved.

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