Japanese Huperzia serrata extract and the constituent, huperzine A, ameliorate the scopolamine-induced cognitive impairment in mice.

Abstract

Huperzia serrata has been used as a Chinese folk medicine for many years. It contains huperzine A, which has a protective effect against memory deficits in animal models; however, it is unclear if H. serrata extract exerts any effects in Alzheimer's disease (AD) models. We used H. serrata collected in Japan and determined its huperzine A content using HPLC. We determined its inhibitory effects on acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and butyrylcholinesterase (BuChE) activity. H. serrata extract (30 mg/kg/day) and donepezil (10 mg/kg/day) were orally administrated for 7 days. After repeated administration, we performed the Y-maze and passive avoidance tests. H. serrata extract contained 0.5% huperzine A; H. serrata extract inhibited AChE, but not BuChE. H. serrata extract ameliorated cognitive function in mice. These results indicate that Japanese H. serrata extract ameliorates cognitive function deficits by inhibiting AChE. Therefore, H. serrata extract may be valuable for the prevention or treatment of dementia in AD.

• Authors: Takuya Ohba, Yuta Yoshino, Mitsue Ishisaka, Naohito Abe, Kazuhiro Tsuruma, Masamitsu Shimazawa, Masayoshi Oyama, Takeshi Tabira, Hideaki Hara
• Journal: Bioscience, biotechnology, and biochemistry (Biosci Biotechnol Biochem) Vol. 79 Issue 11 Pg. 1838-44 ( 2015) ISSN: 1347-6947 [Electronic] England
• PMID: 26059088 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Alkaloids
• Cholinesterase Inhibitors
• Plant Extracts
• Sesquiterpenes
• huperzine A
• Scopolamine
• Acetylcholinesterase
• Butyrylcholinesterase

Topics

• Acetylcholinesterase (biosynthesis, drug effects)
• Alkaloids (administration & dosage, chemistry)
• Alzheimer Disease (drug therapy, pathology)
• Animals
• Butyrylcholinesterase (biosynthesis, drug effects)
• Cholinesterase Inhibitors (administration & dosage)
• Cognition Disorders (chemically induced, drug therapy, pathology)
• Huperzia (chemistry)
• Japan
• Memory Disorders (drug therapy, pathology)
• Mice
• Plant Extracts (administration & dosage, chemistry)
• Scopolamine (toxicity)
• Sesquiterpenes (administration & dosage, chemistry)