title: Memory-Enhancing Effects of the Crude Extract of Polygala tenuifolia on Aged Mice.
abstract: Learning and memory disorders arise from distinct age-associated processes, and aging animals are often used as a model of memory impairment. The root of Polygala tenuifolia has been commonly used in some Asian countries as memory enhancer and its memory improvement has been reported in various animal models. However, there is less research to verify its effect on memory functions in aged animals. Herein, the memory-enhancing effects of the crude extract of Polygala tenuifolia (EPT) on normal aged mice were assessed by Morris water maze (MWM) and step-down passive avoidance tests. In MWM tests, the impaired spatial memory of the aged mice was partly reversed by EPT (100 and 200 mg/kg; P < 0.05) as compared with the aged control mice. In step-down tests, the nonspatial memory of the aged mice was improved by EPT (100 and 200 mg/kg; P < 0.05). Additionally, EPT could increase superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) activities, inhibit monoamine oxidase (MAO) and acetyl cholinesterase (AChE) activities, and decrease the levels of malondialdehyde (MDA) in the brain tissue of the aged mice. The results showed that EPT improved memory functions of the aged mice probably via its antioxidant properties and via decreasing the activities of MAO and AChE.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Medicinal Plant Development, Chinese Academy of Medical Science, Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100193, China.
authors.forename: Zongyang
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Institute of Medicinal Plant Development, Chinese Academy of Medical Science, Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100193, China.
authors.forename: Yamin
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Institute of Medicinal Plant Development, Chinese Academy of Medical Science, Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100193, China.
authors.forename: Liwei
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Institute of Medicinal Plant Development, Chinese Academy of Medical Science, Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100193, China.
authors.forename: Xinmin
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Institute of Medicinal Plant Development, Chinese Academy of Medical Science, Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100193, China.
authors.forename: Qi
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.affiliation: Institute of Medicinal Plant Development, Chinese Academy of Medical Science, Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100193, China.
authors.forename: Zhi
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.affiliation: Institute of Medicinal Plant Development, Chinese Academy of Medical Science, Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100193, China.
authors.forename: Yonghong
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Liao
authors.affiliation: Institute of Medicinal Plant Development, Chinese Academy of Medical Science, Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100193, China.
authors.forename: Ruile
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Pan
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 1PD, UK.
authors.forename: Tai-Ping
authors.initials: TP
authors.lastname: Fan
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