Improvement of scopolamine-induced memory impairment by Z-ajoene in the water maze in mice.
Z-ajoene, a major compound containing sulfur in oil-macerated garlic products, exhibited inhibitory effects against scopolamine-induced memory impairment in mice using the Morris water maze test. The effects of Z-ajoene were observed dose-dependently (0.25-25 mg/kg). At the highest dosage, the memory performance of mice was improved compared to normal mice. The acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity in the brain was reduced by administration of Z-ajoene dose-dependently. However, alliin and diallyl disulfide, organosulfur compounds from garlic, did not improve memory performance nor AChE inhibitory effect. These results suggest that Z-ajoene may act on the cholinergic system and on memory impairment caused by excess activity of AChE.
Biodevelopment Division, Central Institute, Nagoya Seiraku Co. Ltd., 310 Nakasuna-cho, Tempaku, Nagoya, Aichi 468-0065, Japan.
N
N
Yamada
A
A
Hattori
T
T
Hayashi
T
T
Nishikawa
H
H
Fukuda
T
T
Fujino
D000110:Acetylcholinesterase / Q000378:metabolism; D000498:Allyl Compounds / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D001362:Avoidance Learning / Q000187:drug effects; D001921:Brain / Q000201:enzymology; D002800:Cholinesterase Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D003545:Cysteine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology; D004220:Disulfides / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008297:Male; D018782:Maze Learning / Q000187:drug effects*; D008569:Memory Disorders / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000523:psychology; D008570:Memory, Short-Term / Q000187:drug effects; D051379:Mice; D018727:Muscarinic Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012601:Scopolamine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013028:Space Perception / Q000187:drug effects; D013454:Sulfoxides
D000498:Allyl Compounds; D002800:Cholinesterase Inhibitors; D004220:Disulfides; D018727:Muscarinic Antagonists; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D010936:Plant Extracts; D013454:Sulfoxides; C028009:diallyl disulfide; C006453:alliin; C048980:ajoene; D012601:Scopolamine; D000110:Acetylcholinesterase; D003545:Cysteine