KD-501, a standardized extract of Scrophularia buergeriana has both cognitive-enhancing and antioxidant activities in mice given scopolamine.
OBJECTIVE
The cognitive-enhancing and antioxidant activities of KD-501, a standardized extract of the roots of Scrophularia buergeriana Miquel (Scrophulariceae) were investigated.


METHODS
KD-501 was orally administered to amnesic mice induced by scopolamine and we performed passive avoidance and the Morris water maze tests. To elucidate the mechanism of cognitive-enhancing activity, the effects of KD-501 on the activities of acetylcholinesterase and antioxidant enzymes within the cortex and hippocampus of mice were evaluated.


RESULTS
Acute and prolonged oral administration of KD-501 significantly ameliorated scopolamine-induced amnesia in passive avoidance test. In the Morris water maze test, acute and prolonged administration of KD-501 improved the impairment of spatial memory induced by scopolamine indicated by the formation of reference and working memories. The activity of acetylcholinesterase was significantly inhibited by KD-501 within the cortex and hippocampus. Moreover, the reduced activities or contents of glutathione reductase, superoxide dismutase (SOD) and reduced GSH within the cortex and hippocampus caused by scopolamine were elevated by the treatment of KD-501.


CONCLUSIONS
Taken together, it could be postulated that KD-501 may exert its potent cognitive-enhancing activity through both anti-acetylcholinesterase and antioxidative actions.
Jeong
Eun Ju
EJ
College of Pharmacy and Research Institute of Pharmaceutical Science, Seoul National University, San 56-1, Shillim-Dong, Gwanak-Gu, Seoul 151-742, Republic of Korea.
Ma
Choong Je
CJ
Lee
Ki Yong
KY
Kim
Seung Hyun
SH
Sung
Sang Hyun
SH
Kim
Young Choong
YC
D000110:Acetylcholinesterase / Q000378:metabolism; D000284:Administration, Oral; D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001362:Avoidance Learning / Q000187:drug effects; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology; D003071:Cognition / Q000187:drug effects*; D005979:Glutathione Peroxidase / Q000378:metabolism; D005980:Glutathione Reductase / Q000378:metabolism; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology; D008297:Male; D018782:Maze Learning / Q000187:drug effects; D008568:Memory / Q000187:drug effects*; D051379:Mice; D008813:Mice, Inbred ICR; D018697:Nootropic Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018517:Plant Roots; D032266:Scrophularia; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000378:metabolism
D000975:Antioxidants; D018697:Nootropic Agents; D010936:Plant Extracts; D005979:Glutathione Peroxidase; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase; D005980:Glutathione Reductase; D000110:Acetylcholinesterase