title: The standardized Lycium chinense fruit extract protects against Alzheimer's disease in 3xTg-AD mice.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common cause of dementia. This disease is a progressive and irreversible brain disorder accompanied with severe learning and memory impairment. This study investigated whether treatment with standardized Lycii Fructus Extract (LFE) would improve the cognitive function and the pathological features of AD in 3xTg-AD mice.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Lycii Fructus is a fruit of Lycium chinense Miller and widely distributed in East Asia and has been used traditionally for anti-aging purposes.
  
  
  METHODS
  The cognitive function of 3xTg-AD mice was assessed using the Morris water maze test. The levels of the amyloid beta deposits and NeuN in the hippocampus were evaluated with immunohistochemistry. Brain neurotrophic derived factor (BDNF) and tyrosine kinase B (TrkB) expressions were examined by western blot analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  LFE treatment significantly ameliorated learning and memory deficits in AD mice, as shown by increased time spent in the target zone during probe tests. In addition, LFE significantly decreased Aβ deposits, increased NeuN-positive cells, and upregulated the expression of BDNF and TrkB in the 3xTg AD mice.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The present study suggests that LFE treatment can be a useful strategy for treating memory impairment induced by several neurodegenerative diseases.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, College of Korean Medicine, Kyung Hee University, Seoul 130-701, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Minsook
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ye
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, College of Korean Medicine, Kyung Hee University, Seoul 130-701, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Junghee
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Moon
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, College of Korean Medicine, Kyung Hee University, Seoul 130-701, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Jieun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: Biomix Inc. 142 Ilsan-ro, Ilsandong-gu, Goyang, Gyeonggi-do, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Hyun
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Hwa Lim
authors.affiliation: Biomix Inc. 142 Ilsan-ro, Ilsandong-gu, Goyang, Gyeonggi-do, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Seong
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bin Hong
authors.affiliation: Acupuncture and Meridian Science Research Center, College of Korean Medical Science Graduate School, Kyung Hee University, Seoul 130-701, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Insop
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Shim
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, College of Korean Medicine, Kyung Hee University, Seoul 130-701, Republic of Korea. Electronic address: hbae@khu.ac.kr.
authors.forename: Hyunsu
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Bae
mesh_terms: D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000517:prevention & control; D016229:Amyloid beta-Peptides; D000818:Animals; D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor / Q000378:metabolism; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005638:Fruit / Q000737:chemistry*; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000378:metabolism; D032305:Lycium / Q000737:chemistry*; D018782:Maze Learning / Q000187:drug effects; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000378:metabolism; D008569:Memory Disorders / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D051379:Mice; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D009687:Nuclear Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011505:Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / Q000378:metabolism; D015854:Up-Regulation / Q000187:drug effects; D020813:Receptor, trkB
chemical_list: D016229:Amyloid beta-Peptides; D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; D010936:Plant Extracts; D011505:Protein-Tyrosine Kinases; C492380:NeuN protein, mouse; C064371:Ntrk2 protein, mouse; D020813:Receptor, trkB
keywords: 3xTg mice; Alzheimer׳s disease; BDNF; Lycii Fructus; Morris water maze; TrkB