title: Influence of the Melissa officinalis Leaf Extract on Long-Term Memory in Scopolamine Animal Model with Assessment of Mechanism of Action.
abstract: Melissa officinalis (MO, English: lemon balm, Lamiaceae), one of the oldest and still most popular aromatic medicinal plants, is used in phytomedicine for the prevention and treatment of nervous disturbances. The aim of our study was to assess the effect of subchronic (28-fold) administration of a 50% ethanol extract of MO leaves (200 mg/kg, p.o.) compared with rosmarinic acid (RA, 10 mg/kg, p.o.) and huperzine A (HU, 0.5 mg/kg, p.o.) on behavioral and cognitive responses in scopolamine-induced rats. The results were linked with acetylcholinesterase (AChE), butyrylcholinesterase (BuChE), and beta-secretase (BACE-1) mRNA levels and AChE and BuChE activities in the hippocampus and frontal cortex of rats. In our study, MO and HU, but not RA, showed an improvement in long-term memory. The results were in line with mRNA levels, since MO produced a decrease of AChE mRNA level by 52% in the cortex and caused a strong significant inhibition of BACE1 mRNA transcription (64% in the frontal cortex; 50% in the hippocampus). However, the extract produced only an insignificant inhibition of AChE activity in the frontal cortex. The mechanisms of MO action are probably more complicated, since its role as a modulator of beta-secretase activity should be taken into consideration.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmaceutical Botany and Plant Biotechnology, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Sw. Marii Magdaleny 14, 61-861 Poznan, Poland; Department of Pharmacology and Phytochemistry, Institute of Natural Fibres and Medicinal Plants, Wojska Polskiego 71b, 60-630 Poznan, Poland.
authors.forename: Marcin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ozarowski
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology and Phytochemistry, Institute of Natural Fibres and Medicinal Plants, Wojska Polskiego 71b, 60-630 Poznan, Poland; Department of Pharmacology, University of Medical Sciences, Rokietnicka 5a, 60-806 Poznan, Poland.
authors.forename: Przemyslaw L
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: Mikolajczak
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathogen Genetics and Plant Resistance, Metabolomics Team, Institute of Plant Genetics of the Polish Academy of Science, Strzeszynska 34, 60-479 Poznan, Poland.
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Piasecka
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathogen Genetics and Plant Resistance, Metabolomics Team, Institute of Plant Genetics of the Polish Academy of Science, Strzeszynska 34, 60-479 Poznan, Poland.
authors.forename: Piotr
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kachlicki
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology and Phytochemistry, Institute of Natural Fibres and Medicinal Plants, Wojska Polskiego 71b, 60-630 Poznan, Poland.
authors.forename: Radoslaw
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kujawski
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Experimental Pharmacogenetics, Department of Clinical Pharmacy and Biopharmacy, University of Medical Sciences, 14 Sw. Marii Magdaleny, 61-861 Poznan, Poland; Department of Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine, Institute of Natural Fibres and Medicinal Plants, Wojska Polskiego 71b, 60-630 Poznan, Poland.
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bogacz
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Experimental Pharmacogenetics, Department of Clinical Pharmacy and Biopharmacy, University of Medical Sciences, 14 Sw. Marii Magdaleny, 61-861 Poznan, Poland.
authors.forename: Joanna
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bartkowiak-Wieczorek
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, University of Medical Sciences, Rokietnicka 5a, 60-806 Poznan, Poland.
authors.forename: Michal
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Szulc
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, University of Medical Sciences, Rokietnicka 5a, 60-806 Poznan, Poland.
authors.forename: Ewa
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kaminska
authors.affiliation: Department of Toxicology, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Dojazd 30, 60-631 Poznan, Poland.
authors.forename: Malgorzata
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kujawska
authors.affiliation: Department of Toxicology, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Dojazd 30, 60-631 Poznan, Poland.
authors.forename: Jadwiga
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Jodynis-Liebert
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology and Phytochemistry, Institute of Natural Fibres and Medicinal Plants, Wojska Polskiego 71b, 60-630 Poznan, Poland.
authors.forename: Agnieszka
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gryszczynska
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology and Phytochemistry, Institute of Natural Fibres and Medicinal Plants, Wojska Polskiego 71b, 60-630 Poznan, Poland.
authors.forename: Bogna
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Opala
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology and Phytochemistry, Institute of Natural Fibres and Medicinal Plants, Wojska Polskiego 71b, 60-630 Poznan, Poland.
authors.forename: Zdzislaw
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Lowicki
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology and Phytochemistry, Institute of Natural Fibres and Medicinal Plants, Wojska Polskiego 71b, 60-630 Poznan, Poland; Division of Perinatology and Women's Diseases, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Polna 33, 60-535 Poznan, Poland; Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Polna 33, 60-535 Poznan, Poland.
authors.forename: Agnieszka
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Seremak-Mrozikiewicz
authors.affiliation: Department of Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine, Institute of Natural Fibres and Medicinal Plants, Wojska Polskiego 71b, 60-630 Poznan, Poland; Department of General Pharmacology and Pharmacoeconomics, Pomeranian Medical University, Zolnierska 48, 70-204 Szczecin, Poland.
authors.forename: Boguslaw
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Czerny