Protective effects of salvianolic acid A against impairment of memory induced by cerebral ischemia-reperfusion in mice.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the protective effects of Salvianolic acid A against impairment of memory induced by cerebral ischemia-reperfusion in mice and the relationship between antioxidant activity of salvianolic acid A and its protective effects on brain injury caused by reperfusion.


METHODS
Step down and step through tests were used to examine the function of memory in the model of impairment of memory induced by cerebral ischemia-reperfusion in mice.


RESULTS
Salvianolic acid A (Sal A) at the dosage of 3 and 10 mg.kg-1 i.v. could improve the impaired memory function induced by cerebral ischemia-reperfusion as shown in step down and step through tests. In step down tests, the mean number of errors of Sal A 3 and 10 mg.kg-1 treated group were 1.29, 1.15 and that of control group was 3.8 (P < 0.01). The latencies of these tests were longer than those of the control group. Meanwhile, 3 and 10 mg.kg of Sal A i.v. were found to reduce the malondialdehyde contents in the cortex, hippocampus and corpus striatum of cerebral ischemia-reperfusion rat in vivo. Sal A 10-100 nmol.L-1 was also shown to inhibit lipid-peroxidation of the brain and scavenge the free hydroxyl radicals in vitro.


CONCLUSIONS
These indicate that the ameliorating effect of Sal A on learning and memory impairment caused by cerebral ischemia reperfusion may be related to its anti-oxidant activity.
Du
G
G
Institute of Material Medical, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Peking Union Medial College, Beijing, China.
Zhang
J
J
D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001362:Avoidance Learning / Q000187:drug effects; D002545:Brain Ischemia / Q000150:complications*; D002109:Caffeic Acids / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000737:chemistry; D007773:Lactates / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D008569:Memory Disorders / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D051379:Mice; D010936:Plant Extracts; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D015427:Reperfusion Injury / Q000150:complications*; D027561:Salvia miltiorrhiza
D000975:Antioxidants; D002109:Caffeic Acids; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D007773:Lactates; D010936:Plant Extracts; C066201:salvianolic acid A