Improvement of memory by dieckol and phlorofucofuroeckol in ethanol-treated mice: possible involvement of the inhibition of acetylcholinesterase.
Phlorotannins, the polyphonic compounds found in brown Eisenia and Ecklonia algae, have several pharmacologically beneficial effects such as anti-inflammation. In addition, our recent data show that these compounds may improve the cognitive functions of aged humans suggesting the potential ability to enhance memory in several neurodegenerative disorders. To examine the experimental hypothesis that two effective components of Ecklonia cava, dieckol and phlorofucofuroeckol (PFF), have memory-enhancing abilities, both were administered orally to mice before a passive avoidance test. The repeated administration of either dieckol or PFF dose-dependently reduced the inhibition of latency by the administration of ethanol. To investigate the mode of memory-enhancing actions, the levels of major central neurotransmitters in three different regions (striatum, hippocampus, and frontal cortex) of the mouse brain were measured. The levels of some of the neurotransmitters were significantly changed by ethanol. Both dieckol and PFF altered the levels of some neurotransmitters modified by the ethanol treatment. It is noteworthy that both dieckol and PFF increased the level of acetylcholine, and they exerted anticholinesterase activities. Overall, the memory-enhancing abilities of dieckol and PFF may result from, at least in part, the increment of the brain level of acetylcholine by inhibiting acetylcholinesterase.
Myung
Chang-Seon
CS
College of Pharmacy, Chungnam National University, Daejeon 305-764, Korea.
Shin
Hyeon-Cheol
HC
Bao
Hai Ying
HY
Yeo
Soo Jeong
SJ
Lee
Bong Ho
BH
Kang
Jong Seong
JS
D000110:Acetylcholinesterase / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D001572:Benzofurans / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology; D001923:Brain Chemistry; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D002800:Cholinesterase Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D003342:Corpus Striatum / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D004147:Dioxins / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D000431:Ethanol / Q000008:administration & dosage; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D009682:Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy; D008297:Male; D008568:Memory / Q000187:drug effects*; D051379:Mice; D008813:Mice, Inbred ICR; D015394:Molecular Structure; D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents / Q000378:metabolism*; D009638:Norepinephrine / Q000378:metabolism; D000459:Phaeophyceae / Q000737:chemistry
D001572:Benzofurans; D002800:Cholinesterase Inhibitors; D004147:Dioxins; D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents; C503840:dieckol; C064093:phlorofucofuroeckol A; D000431:Ethanol; D000110:Acetylcholinesterase; D009638:Norepinephrine