Reversible acetylcholinesterase inhibitory effect of Tabernaemontana divaricata extract on synaptic transmission in rat CA1 hippocampus.
OBJECTIVE
Acetylcholinesterase inhibitors (AChE-Is) are used for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease (AD). These drugs including galanthamine have been shown to modulate synaptic activity in hippocampus and improve memory processes. Although Tabernaemontana divaricata extract (TDE) has been used as traditional medicine for various pharmacological effects, its effect in enhancing cholinergic activity provides additional benefit to its known effects. We investigated whether TDE can modulate the synaptic function in hippocampus and compared its effects to those of galanthamine.


METHODS
Hippocampal slices were prepared from male wistar rats, functional effects of TDE were characterized by using pharmacological tools and extracellular recordings of field excitatory postsynaptic potentials (fEPSPs).


RESULTS
TDE significantly reduced fEPSPs. The fEPSPs reduction was prevented by atropine, but not pancuronium. These TDE effects were similar to those of galanthamine.


CONCLUSIONS
Our findings indicate that TDE can effectively modulate synaptic responses in the hippocampus similar to galanthamine, suggesting that this traditional medicine could be beneficial in ageing with ACh deprivation in the brain.
Pratchayasakul
Wasana
W
Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand.
Pongchaidecha
Anchalee
A
Chattipakorn
Nipon
N
Chattipakorn
Siriporn C
SC
D000110:Acetylcholinesterase / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D001688:Biological Products / Q000494:pharmacology; D001921:Brain / Q000473:pathology; D056547:CA1 Region, Hippocampal / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D002800:Cholinesterase Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D019706:Excitatory Postsynaptic Potentials; D005702:Galantamine / Q000494:pharmacology; D008297:Male; D008568:Memory; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D009435:Synaptic Transmission; D030014:Tabernaemontana / Q000378:metabolism*
D001688:Biological Products; D002800:Cholinesterase Inhibitors; D010936:Plant Extracts; D005702:Galantamine; D000110:Acetylcholinesterase