Puerarin attenuates learning and memory impairments and inhibits oxidative stress in STZ-induced SAD mice.
Puerarin (PUE), an isoflavone purified from the root of Pueraria lobata (Chinese herb), has been reported to attenuate learning and memory impairments in the transgenic mouse model of Alzheimer's disease (AD). In the present study, we tested PUE in a sporadic AD (SAD) mouse model which was induced by the intracerebroventricular injection of streptozotocin (STZ). The mice were administrated PUE (25, 50, or 100mg/kg/d) for 28 days. Learning and memory abilities were assessed by the Morris water maze test. After behavioral test, the biochemical parameters of oxidative stress (glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), superoxide dismutases (SOD), and malondialdehyde (MDA)) were measured in the cerebral cortex and hippocampus. The SAD mice exhibited significantly decreased learning and memory ability, while PUE attenuated these impairments. The activities of GSH-Px and SOD were decreased while MDA was increased in the SAD animals. After PUE treatment, the activities of GSH-Px and SOD were elevated, and the level of MDA was decreased. The middle dose PUE was more effective than others. These results indicate that PUE attenuates learning and memory impairments and inhibits oxidative stress in STZ-induced SAD mice. PUE may be a promising therapeutic agent for SAD.
Department of Human Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Xi'an Jiaotong University Health Science Center, Xi'an, People's Republic of China.
Shan-shan
SS
Zhao
Department of Human Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Xi'an Jiaotong University Health Science Center, Xi'an, People's Republic of China.
Wei-na
WN
Yang
Department of Human Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Xi'an Jiaotong University Health Science Center, Xi'an, People's Republic of China.
Hui
H
Jin
Department of Human Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Xi'an Jiaotong University Health Science Center, Xi'an, People's Republic of China.
Kai-ge
KG
Ma
Department of Human Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Xi'an Jiaotong University Health Science Center, Xi'an, People's Republic of China; Key Laboratory of Environment and Genes Related to Diseases, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Ministry of Education of China, 76# West Yanta Road, Xi'an 710061, Shaanxi, People's Republic of China. Electronic address: gaifeng.feng@mail.xjtu.edu.cn.
Gai-feng
GF
Feng
D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000523:psychology*; D000818:Animals; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005260:Female; D005979:Glutathione Peroxidase / Q000378:metabolism; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D007529:Isoflavones / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D007858:Learning / Q000187:drug effects*; D008315:Malondialdehyde / Q000378:metabolism; D018782:Maze Learning / Q000187:drug effects; D008568:Memory / Q000187:drug effects*; D051379:Mice; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects*; D013311:Streptozocin; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000378:metabolism
D007529:Isoflavones; D008315:Malondialdehyde; D013311:Streptozocin; D005979:Glutathione Peroxidase; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase; C033607:puerarin
Alzheimer's disease; Learning and memory; Oxidative stress; Puerarin; Streptozotocin