title: Preventive effect of baicalein on methamphetamine-induced amnesia in the passive avoidance test in mice.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Methamphetamine abuse may produce cognitive impairment. Baicalein, a bioactive flavonoid, has antioxidative, anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective effects. This study examined the effects of baicalein pretreatment on memory performance in the passive avoidance test after either one dose or an acute binge of methamphetamine in Institute of Cancer Research (ICR) mice.
  
  
  METHODS
  Methamphetamine was administered by intraperitoneal (i.p.) injection of either one dose (3 mg/kg) or an acute binge (3 mg/kg, 4 i.p. injections at 2-hour intervals). The effects of baicalein pretreatment (1 mg/kg, i.p.) on methamphetamine-induced changes of locomotor activity and memory performance were compared with those of eticlopride, a selective dopamine D2 receptor antagonist. The effects of baicalein on acute binge methamphetamine-induced oxidative stress (malondialdehyde- and nitrotyrosine-modified protein production) in the mouse hippocampus were also examined.
  
  
  RESULTS
  One-dose methamphetamine treatment (i.p., 30 min before or immediately after the training trial) induced hyperlocomotion and amnesia in mice, which were blocked by eticlopride but not by baicalein pretreatment. The memory performance in mice was impaired 5 days after acute binge methamphetamine, which was significantly attenuated by baicalein but not by eticlopride pretreatment. Baicalein pretreatment also attenuated acute binge methamphetamine-induced oxidative stress in the mouse hippocampus.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Baicalein exhibits antioxidative and neuroprotective effects in attenuating acute binge methamphetamine-induced memory deficits and oxidative hippocampal damage.
authors.affiliation: Department and Institute of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan, ROC.
authors.forename: Yi-Kuei
authors.initials: YK
authors.lastname: Wong
authors.forename: Ming-Kuan
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Chou
authors.forename: Yuh-Chiang
authors.initials: YC
authors.lastname: Shen
authors.forename: Yea-Hwey
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Jiin-Cherng
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Yen
authors.forename: Chieh-Fu
authors.initials: CF
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Shi-Kwang
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Jyh-Fei
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Liao
mesh_terms: D000647:Amnesia / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D000818:Animals; D001362:Avoidance Learning / Q000187:drug effects; D044950:Flavanones / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008315:Malondialdehyde / Q000378:metabolism; D008568:Memory / Q000187:drug effects; D008694:Methamphetamine; D008813:Mice, Inbred ICR; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000187:drug effects; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects; D030421:Peroxynitrous Acid / Q000378:metabolism; D012601:Scopolamine
chemical_list: D044950:Flavanones; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; D030421:Peroxynitrous Acid; D008694:Methamphetamine; C006680:baicalein; D008315:Malondialdehyde; D012601:Scopolamine