Anti-amnestic activity of pseudocoptisine from Corydalis Tuber.

Abstract

Pseudocoptisine, a quaternary alkaloid with benzylisoquinoline skeleton, was isolated from Corydalis Tuber, one of the important medicinal plants in traditional medicine. Pseudocoptisine inhibited acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity in a dose-dependent manner, and the concentration required for 50% inhibition was 12.8 microM. In further study, the anti-amnesic activities of pseudocoptisine in mice on the learning and memory impairments induced by scopolamine (1.0 mg/kg, i.p.) were examined. This alkaloid (2.0 mg/kg, p.o.) administration significantly reversed cognitive impairments in mice by passive avoidance test (p<0.05). It also reduced escape latencies in training trials and prolonged swimming times in the target quadrant during the probe trial in the water maze task (p<0.05). These results indicate that pseudocoptisine has anti-cholinesterase and anti-amnesic activities that may be useful for cognitive impairment treatment.

• Authors: Tran Manh Hung, Tran Minh Ngoc, Ui Joung Youn, Byung Sun Min, Minkyun Na, Phuong Thien Thuong, Kihwan Bae
• Journal: Biological & pharmaceutical bulletin (Biol Pharm Bull) Vol. 31 Issue 1 Pg. 159-62 (Jan 2008) ISSN: 0918-6158 [Print] Japan
• PMID: 18175962 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Benzylisoquinolines
• Cholinesterase Inhibitors
• pseudocoptisine

Topics

• Amnesia (drug therapy)
• Animals
• Benzylisoquinolines (pharmacology)
• Cholinesterase Inhibitors (pharmacology)
• Corydalis (chemistry)
• Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
• Male
• Maze Learning (drug effects)
• Mice
• Mice, Inbred ICR
• Rats
• Rats, Sprague-Dawley