title: Nelumbo nucifera semen extract improves memory in rats with scopolamine-induced amnesia through the induction of choline acetyltransferase expression.
abstract: Nelumbo nucifera semen (NNS) is a traditional herb with anti-diarrheal, anti-ganacratia, and tranquilizer-like pharmacological activities. In this study, we examined the anti-amnesic effect of NNS on rats with scopolamine-induced amnesia. Passive avoidance tests, acetylcholinesterase (ACHE) activity, and choline acetyltransferase (CHAT) expression were used to evaluate the NNS anti-amnesic effects. The rats were divided into five groups: the normal group, scopolamine-treated group (1mg/kg; control), NNS (1g/kg) and scopolamine (1mg/kg) co-treatment group, and the ARICEPT (1mg/kg) and scopolamine (1mg/kg) co-treatment group (positive control). The rats were administered the compounds orally for 14 days. The latency time of passive avoidance significantly increased by 54% in the NNS-treated group compared to the scopolamine-treated group. The ACHE activity in the NNS-treated group significantly decreased to 7.35% than that of the control group. CHAT-positive neurons increased by 51.02% in the NNS group compared to the control group. These results suggest that NNS extract improves scopolamine-induced dementia by inhibiting ACHE activity and inducing CHAT expression.
authors.affiliation: Department of Prescriptionology, College of Oriental Medicine, Kyung Hee University, 1 Hoegi-dong, Dongdaemun-gu, Seoul 130-701, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Ji Hoon
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Oh
authors.forename: Bong Jae
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: Mun Seog
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.forename: Seong Kyu
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Park
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001362:Avoidance Learning / Q000187:drug effects; D002795:Choline O-Acetyltransferase / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000201:enzymology; D008297:Male; D008568:Memory / Q000187:drug effects*; D031653:Nelumbo / Q000737:chemistry*; D009474:Neurons / Q000201:enzymology; D018697:Nootropic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D011930:Reaction Time; D012601:Scopolamine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D020665:Septum of Brain / Q000201:enzymology
chemical_list: D018697:Nootropic Agents; D010936:Plant Extracts; D012601:Scopolamine; D002795:Choline O-Acetyltransferase