title: Effect of glabridin from Glycyrrhiza glabra on learning and memory in mice.
abstract: Glabridin was isolated from the roots of Glycyrrhiza glabra and its effects on cognitive functions and cholinesterase activity were investigated in mice. Glabridin (1, 2 and 4 mg kg (-1), P. O.) and piracetam (400 mg kg (-1), i. p.), a clinically used nootropic agent, were administered daily for 3 successive days to different groups of mice. The higher doses (2 and 4 mg kg (-1), P. O.) of glabridin and piracetam significantly antagonized the amnesia induced by scopolamine (0.5 mg kg (-1), I. P.) in both the elevated plus maze test and passive avoidance test. Furthermore, glabridin (2 and 4 mg kg (-1), P. O.) and metrifonate (50 mg kg (-1), I. P.), used as a standard drug, both remarkably reduced the brain cholinesterase activity in mice compared to the control group. Therefore, glabridin appears to be a promising candidate for memory improvement and it will be worthwhile to explore the potential of glabridin in the management of Alzheimer patients.
authors.affiliation: College of Life Science and Technology, Institute of Resource Biology and Biotechnology, Huazhong University of Science & Technology, Wuhan, P. R. China.
authors.forename: Yong-Ming
authors.initials: YM
authors.lastname: Cui
authors.forename: Ming-Zhang
authors.initials: MZ
authors.lastname: Ao
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Long-Jiang
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Yu
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002800:Cholinesterase Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D006035:Glycyrrhiza / Q000737:chemistry*; D007529:Isoflavones / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007858:Learning / Q000187:drug effects*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D015394:Molecular Structure; D018697:Nootropic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D010636:Phenols / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010889:Piracetam / Q000494:pharmacology; D018517:Plant Roots / Q000737:chemistry; D014236:Trichlorfon / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D002800:Cholinesterase Inhibitors; D007529:Isoflavones; D018697:Nootropic Agents; D010636:Phenols; D014236:Trichlorfon; C107601:glabridin; D010889:Piracetam