Schizandrin reverses memory impairment in rats.

Abstract

The present study investigated the effect of schizandrin, a component of the fruit of Schizandra chinesis Baill (Fructus Schizandrae), on memory impairment in rats. Scopolamine (0.5 mg/kg, i.p.), a non-selective muscarinic receptor antagonist, markedly impaired spatial memory in an eight-arm radial maze. A higher dose of scopolamine (3 mg/kg, i.p.) also impaired the passive avoidance response. Schizandrin (1 and 10 mg/kg, p.o.) significantly reversed the scopolamine-induced impairment of spatial memory. Similarly, schizandrin (1 mg/kg, p.o.) significantly reversed the scopolamine-induced impairment of the passive avoidance response. Moreover, in mice, schizandrin (1 and 10 mg/kg, p.o.) enhanced tremors induced by oxotremorine, a muscarinic M(1) receptor agonist. Taken together these findings suggest that schizandrin reverses scopolamine-induced memory impairment, in part, by enhancing cholinergic function, and that schizandrin might be useful for treating memory deficits.

• Authors: Nobuaki Egashira, Kouji Kurauchi, Katsunori Iwasaki, Kenichi Mishima, Kensuke Orito, Ryozo Oishi, Michihiro Fujiwara
• Journal: Phytotherapy research : PTR (Phytother Res) Vol. 22 Issue 1 Pg. 49-52 (Jan 2008) ISSN: 0951-418X [Print] England
• PMID: 17705144 (Publication Type: Journal Article)
• Copyright: Copyright (c) 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Chemical References

• Cyclooctanes
• Lignans
• Muscarinic Antagonists
• Polycyclic Compounds
• Oxotremorine
• Scopolamine
• schizandrin

Topics

• Animals
• Avoidance Learning (drug effects)
• Cyclooctanes (chemistry, pharmacology)
• Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
• Lignans (chemistry, pharmacology)
• Male
• Maze Learning (drug effects)
• Memory Disorders (chemically induced, prevention & control)
• Molecular Structure
• Muscarinic Antagonists (pharmacology)
• Oxotremorine (pharmacology)
• Phytotherapy
• Polycyclic Compounds (chemistry, pharmacology)
• Rats
• Rats, Wistar
• Schisandra (chemistry)
• Scopolamine