β-
asarone (BAS) is an active component of
Acori graminei rhizoma, a
traditional medicine used clinically in treating
dementia and chronic stress in Korea. However, the cognitive effects of BAS and its mechanism of action have remained elusive. The purpose of this study was to examine whether BAS improved spatial
cognitive impairment induced in rats following chronic
corticosterone (CORT) administration. CORT administration (40 mg/kg, i.p., 21 days) resulted in
cognitive impairment in the avoidance conditioning test (AAT) and the Morris water maze (MWM) test that was reversed by BAS (200 mg/kg, i.p). Additionally, as assessed by immunohistochemistry and RT-PCR analysis, the administration of BAS significantly alleviated memory-associated decreases in the expression levels of
brain-derived neurotrophic factor (
BDNF) and
cAMP-response element-binding protein (CREB)
proteins and mRNAs in the hippocampus. Also, BAS administration significantly restored the expression of Bax and Bcl-2 mRNAs in the hippocampus. Thus, BAS may be an effective therapeutic for learning and memory disturbances, and its
neuroprotective effect was mediated, in part, by normalizing the CORT response, resulting in regulation of
BDNF and CREB functions and anti-apoptosis in rats.