title: Japanese Huperzia serrata extract and the constituent, huperzine A, ameliorate the scopolamine-induced cognitive impairment in mice.
abstract: Huperzia serrata has been used as a Chinese folk medicine for many years. It contains huperzine A, which has a protective effect against memory deficits in animal models; however, it is unclear if H. serrata extract exerts any effects in Alzheimer's disease (AD) models. We used H. serrata collected in Japan and determined its huperzine A content using HPLC. We determined its inhibitory effects on acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and butyrylcholinesterase (BuChE) activity. H. serrata extract (30 mg/kg/day) and donepezil (10 mg/kg/day) were orally administrated for 7 days. After repeated administration, we performed the Y-maze and passive avoidance tests. H. serrata extract contained 0.5% huperzine A; H. serrata extract inhibited AChE, but not BuChE. H. serrata extract ameliorated cognitive function in mice. These results indicate that Japanese H. serrata extract ameliorates cognitive function deficits by inhibiting AChE. Therefore, H. serrata extract may be valuable for the prevention or treatment of dementia in AD.
authors.affiliation: a Molecular Pharmacology, Department of Biofunctional Evaluation , Gifu Pharmaceutical University , Gifu , Japan.
authors.forename: Takuya
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ohba
authors.affiliation: a Molecular Pharmacology, Department of Biofunctional Evaluation , Gifu Pharmaceutical University , Gifu , Japan.
authors.forename: Yuta
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yoshino
authors.affiliation: a Molecular Pharmacology, Department of Biofunctional Evaluation , Gifu Pharmaceutical University , Gifu , Japan.
authors.forename: Mitsue
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ishisaka
authors.affiliation: b Pharmacognosy, Department of Bioactive Molecules , Gifu Pharmaceutical University , Gifu , Japan.
authors.forename: Naohito
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Abe
authors.affiliation: a Molecular Pharmacology, Department of Biofunctional Evaluation , Gifu Pharmaceutical University , Gifu , Japan.
authors.forename: Kazuhiro
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Tsuruma
authors.affiliation: a Molecular Pharmacology, Department of Biofunctional Evaluation , Gifu Pharmaceutical University , Gifu , Japan.
authors.forename: Masamitsu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Shimazawa
authors.affiliation: b Pharmacognosy, Department of Bioactive Molecules , Gifu Pharmaceutical University , Gifu , Japan.
authors.forename: Masayoshi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Oyama
authors.affiliation: c Department of Diagnosis, Prevention and Treatment of Dementia, Graduate School of Medicine , Juntendo University , Tokyo , Japan.|d Kawamura Hospital , Gifu , Japan.
authors.forename: Takeshi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Tabira
authors.affiliation: a Molecular Pharmacology, Department of Biofunctional Evaluation , Gifu Pharmaceutical University , Gifu , Japan.
authors.forename: Hideaki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Hara
mesh_terms: D000110:Acetylcholinesterase / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000187:drug effects; D000470:Alkaloids / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000737:chemistry; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology; D000818:Animals; D002091:Butyrylcholinesterase / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000187:drug effects; D002800:Cholinesterase Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D032501:Huperzia / Q000737:chemistry; D007564:Japan; D008569:Memory Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology; D051379:Mice; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000737:chemistry; D012601:Scopolamine / Q000633:toxicity; D012717:Sesquiterpenes / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D000470:Alkaloids; D002800:Cholinesterase Inhibitors; D010936:Plant Extracts; D012717:Sesquiterpenes; C050426:huperzine A; D012601:Scopolamine; D000110:Acetylcholinesterase; D002091:Butyrylcholinesterase
keywords: Huperzia serrata; acetylcholinesterase; cognitive impairment; huperzine A; scopolamine