Asiatic acid derivatives enhance cognitive performance partly by improving acetylcholine synthesis.
Thirty-six semi-synthesized derivatives of asiatic acid were examined to determine if they had cognitive-enhancing activity in a passive avoidance test. Among the compounds tested, AS-2, AS-2-9-006 and AS-9-006 significantly alleviated scopolamine-induced memory impairment at doses of 1 and 10 mg kg(-1). Furthermore, AS-2 and AS-2-9-006 (1 mg kg(-1) administered four times daily) enhanced cognitive performance as determined in a water maze test. These three asiatic acid derivatives did not show any significant effect on the learning process in active avoidance tests. AS-2, AS-2-9-006 and AS-9-006 enhanced cholineacetyltransferase activity in a cholinergic neuroblastoma cell line, S-20Y, in-vitro. Therefore, AS-2, AS-2-9-006 and AS-9-006 may have therapeutic value in alleviating certain memory impairment observed in dementia.
Kim
So Ra
SR
College of Pharmacy and Research Institute of Pharmaceutical Science, Seoul National University, San 56-1, Shillim-Dong, Kwanak-Gu, Seoul 151-742, Korea.
Koo
Kyung Ah
KA
Lee
Mi Kyeong
MK
Park
Hyeung-Geun
HG
Jew
Sang-Sup
SS
Cha
Kyung-Hoe
KH
Kim
Young Choong
YC
D000109:Acetylcholine / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D000647:Amnesia / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy; D000818:Animals; D001362:Avoidance Learning / Q000187:drug effects*; D016466:CHO Cells; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D006224:Cricetinae; D003412:Cricetulus; D003704:Dementia / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy; D008297:Male; D018782:Maze Learning / Q000187:drug effects*; D008568:Memory / Q000187:drug effects*; D051379:Mice; D008813:Mice, Inbred ICR; D018697:Nootropic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D053978:Pentacyclic Triterpenes; D012601:Scopolamine; D014162:Transfection; D014315:Triterpenes / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000494:pharmacology*
D018697:Nootropic Agents; D053978:Pentacyclic Triterpenes; D014315:Triterpenes; C017032:asiatic acid; D012601:Scopolamine; D000109:Acetylcholine