title: Polygalasaponin XXXII from Polygala tenuifolia root improves hippocampal-dependent learning and memory.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to investigate the cognition-enhancing activity and underlying mechanisms of a triterpenoid saponin (polygalasaponin XXXII, PGS32) isolated from the roots of Polygala tenuifolia Willd.
  
  
  METHODS
  The Morris water maze was used to evaluate the spatial learning and memory of mice. To detect the basic properties of synaptic transmission and long-term potentiation (LTP) in the dentate gyrus of rats, electrophysiological recordings were made of evoked potentials. Western blotting analysis and immunofluorescence assays were used to determine the phosphorylation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK), cAMP response element-binding protein (CREB), synapsin I and the expression of brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF).
  
  
  RESULTS
  When administered at 0.125, 0.5, or 2 mg/kg, PGS32 could significantly prevent scopolamine-induced cognitive impairments in mice. Intracerebroventricular (icv) administration of PGS32 greatly enhanced basic synaptic transmission in the dentate gyrus of rats and induced LTP. In primary hippocampal neurons, as well as in the hippocampus of maze-trained mice, PGS32 activated the mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase cascade by promoting phosphorylation of ERK, CREB and synapsin I. The expression of BDNF was also greatly enhanced in the hippocampus.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our findings suggest that PGS32 can improve hippocampus-dependent learning and memory, possibly through improvement of synaptic transmission, activation of the MAP kinase cascade and enhancement of the level of BDNF. Therefore, PGS32 shows promise as a potential cognition-enhancing therapeutic drug.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100050, China.
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Xue
authors.forename: Jin-feng
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.forename: Yu-he
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Yuan
authors.forename: Jian-dong
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.forename: Bo-yu
authors.initials: BY
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Dong-ming
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Chuang-jun
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Nai-hong
authors.initials: NH
authors.lastname: Chen
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor / Q000096:biosynthesis; D017362:Cyclic AMP Response Element-Binding Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D018891:Dentate Gyrus / Q000187:drug effects; D005071:Evoked Potentials / Q000187:drug effects; D048049:Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases / Q000378:metabolism; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000187:drug effects*; D007276:Injections, Intraventricular; D008297:Male; D018782:Maze Learning / Q000187:drug effects*; D008568:Memory / Q000187:drug effects*; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D018697:Nootropic Agents / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010766:Phosphorylation / Q000187:drug effects; D031801:Polygala / Q000737:chemistry*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012503:Saponins / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D016704:Synapsins / Q000378:metabolism; D009435:Synaptic Transmission / Q000187:drug effects; D014315:Triterpenes / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor; D017362:Cyclic AMP Response Element-Binding Protein; D018697:Nootropic Agents; D012503:Saponins; D016704:Synapsins; D014315:Triterpenes; C544870:polygalasaponin XXXII; D048049:Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases
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