title: The memory-ameliorating effects of Artemisia princeps var. orientalis against cholinergic dysfunction in mice.
abstract: Artemisia princeps var. orientalis (Compositae) is widely distributed in China, Japan and Korea and is known to have anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidative activities. The ethyl acetate fraction of ethanolic extract of A. princeps var. orientalis (AEA) was found to inhibit acetylcholinesterase activity in a dose-dependent manner in vitro (IC(50) value: 541.4 ± 67.5 μg/ml). Therefore, we investigated the effects of AEA on scopolamine-induced learning and memory impairment using the passive avoidance, the Y-maze, and the Morris water maze tasks in mice. AEA (100 or 200 mg/kg, p.o.) significantly ameliorated scopolamine-induced cognitive impairments in the passive avoidance and Y-maze tasks (p < 0.05). In the Morris water maze task, AEA (200 mg/kg, p.o.) significantly shortened escape latencies in training trials and increased both swimming time spent in the target zone and probe crossing numbers during the probe trial as compared with scopolamine-treated mice (p < 0.05). Additionally, the ameliorating effect of AEA on scopolamine-induced memory impairment was antagonized by a subeffective dose of MK-801. These results suggest that AEA could be an effective treatment against cholinergic dysfunction and its effect is mediated by the enhancement of the cholinergic neurotransmitter system via NMDA receptor signaling or acetylcholinesterase inhibition.
authors.affiliation: Department of Life and Nanopharmaceutical Science, College of Pharmacy, Kyung Hee University Seoul 130-701,  Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Xiaotong
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Dong Hyun
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Jong Min
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Se Jin
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Mudan
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cai
authors.forename: Dae Sik
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Jang
authors.forename: Jong Hoon
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Ryu
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D019306:Artemisia; D001362:Avoidance Learning / Q000187:drug effects; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects; D002800:Cholinesterase Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D003704:Dementia / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism; D016291:Dizocilpine Maleate / Q000494:pharmacology; D018691:Excitatory Amino Acid Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D008297:Male; D018782:Maze Learning / Q000187:drug effects; D008568:Memory / Q000187:drug effects*; D008569:Memory Disorders / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D008813:Mice, Inbred ICR; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016194:Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate / Q000378:metabolism; D012601:Scopolamine; D015398:Signal Transduction; D013550:Swimming
chemical_list: D002800:Cholinesterase Inhibitors; D018691:Excitatory Amino Acid Antagonists; D010936:Plant Extracts; D016194:Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate; D016291:Dizocilpine Maleate; D012601:Scopolamine