Anti-amnestic activity of E-p-methoxycinnamic acid from Scrophularia buergeriana.

Abstract

We previously reported that phenylpropanoids isolated from the roots of Scrophularia buergeriana Miquel (Scrophulariaceae) protected cultured cortical neurons against glutamate-induced neurotoxicity [Kim and Kim, Phytochemistry, 54 (2000) 503-509; Kim et al., Br. J. Pharmacol. 135 (2002) 1281-1291]. In the present study, we examined the anti-amnestic activities of phenylpropanoids in mice with amnesia induced in vivo by scopolamine. Among the phenylpropanoids tested through passive avoidance tasks, buergeriside A1, buergeriside C1, E-p-methoxycinnamic acid (E-p-MCA) and E-isoferulic acid significantly improved the deficit of memory induced by scopolamine. This suggested that the alpha,beta-unsaturated carboxyl moiety and the para-methoxy group in phenylpropanoids (E-p-MCA) might be a crucial component in their cognition-enhancing activity. Indeed, E-p-MCA (0.01-2 mg/kg body weight, i.p.), given in pre- or post-treatment paradigms, significantly ameliorated scopolamine-induced amnesia as determined by passive avoidance tasks and prevented or aided in the recovery of memory to a level that was about 60% of control. In addition, E-p-MCA (0.1-1.0 mg/kg body weight, i.p.) significantly improved impairments of spatial learning and memory induced by scopolamine; the compound reduced deficits in both long- and short-term memories as measured by the Morris water maze test. We suggest, therefore, that E-p-MCA may ultimately hold significant therapeutic value in alleviating certain memory impairments observed in dementia.

• Authors: So Ra Kim, So Young Kang, Ki Yong Lee, Seung Hyun Kim, George J Markelonis, Tae H Oh, Young Choong Kim
• Journal: Brain research. Cognitive brain research (Brain Res Cogn Brain Res) Vol. 17 Issue 2 Pg. 454-61 (Jul 2003) ISSN: 0926-6410 [Print] Netherlands
• PMID: 12880915 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.)

Chemical References

• Cinnamates
• Plant Extracts
• 4-methoxycinnamic acid
• Scopolamine

Topics

• Amnesia (chemically induced, drug therapy)
• Animals
• Avoidance Learning (drug effects, physiology)
• Cinnamates (chemistry, pharmacology, therapeutic use)
• Escape Reaction (drug effects, physiology)
• Male
• Maze Learning (drug effects, physiology)
• Mice
• Mice, Inbred ICR
• Plant Extracts (chemistry, pharmacology, therapeutic use)
• Plant Roots
• Rats
• Rats, Sprague-Dawley
• Scopolamine (toxicity)
• Scrophularia