Decursin from Angelica gigas mitigates amnesia induced by scopolamine in mice.

Abstract

We previously reported that a total methanolic extract of the underground part of Angelica gigas Nakai (Umbelliferae) (here-in-after abbreviated AG) significantly inhibited acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity. We characterized 12 coumarin derivatives including both decursin and decursinol from extracts of AG. In this study, we evaluated the anti-amnestic activity of decursin, a major coumarin constituent isolated from AG, in vivo using ICR mice with amnesia induced by scopolamine (1 mg/kg body weight, s.c.). Decursin, when administered to mice at 1 and 5 mg/kg body weight i.p., significantly ameliorated scopolamine-induced amnesia as measured in both the passive avoidance test and the Morris water maze test. Moreover, decursin significantly inhibited AChE activity by 34% in the hippocampus of treated mice. These results indicate that decursin may exert anti-amnestic activity in vivo through inhibition of AChE activity in the hippocampus.

• Authors: So Young Kang, Ki Yong Lee, Mi Jung Park, Young Chul Kim, George J Markelonis, Tae H Oh, Young Choong Kim
• Journal: Neurobiology of learning and memory (Neurobiol Learn Mem) Vol. 79 Issue 1 Pg. 11-8 (Jan 2003) ISSN: 1074-7427 [Print] United States
• PMID: 12482674 (Publication Type: Comparative Study, Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't, Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.)

Chemical References

• Benzopyrans
• Butyrates
• Cholinesterase Inhibitors
• Muscarinic Antagonists
• Plant Extracts
• Scopolamine
• decursin
• Acetylcholinesterase

Topics

• Acetylcholinesterase (metabolism)
• Amnesia (chemically induced, drug therapy, psychology)
• Angelica
• Animals
• Avoidance Learning (drug effects)
• Benzopyrans (pharmacology, therapeutic use)
• Brain (drug effects, enzymology)
• Butyrates (pharmacology, therapeutic use)
• Cholinesterase Inhibitors (pharmacology, therapeutic use)
• Disease Models, Animal
• Male
• Maze Learning (drug effects)
• Memory (drug effects)
• Mice
• Mice, Inbred ICR
• Muscarinic Antagonists
• Plant Extracts (pharmacology, therapeutic use)
• Scopolamine