AmeliorativeEffectsofDendropanaxmorbiferaon Cognitive Impairment Via Enhancing Cholinergic Functions and Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor Expression inβ-Amyloid-Induced Mice

Abstract

Alzheimer's disease accounts for the majority of dementia and shows hallmarks such as sequential cognitive dysfunction and abnormal behavior.Dendropanaxmorbifera(DM) has traditionally been used to treat a variety of diseases in East Asia. The aim of this study was to assess the therapeuticeffectsof DM on brain neuron damage and on cognitive deficit in neuronal cell induced by Aβ1-42in mice. Treatment with DM reduced the levels of intracellular reactive oxygen species and protected against the death of neuronal cells induced by Aβ1-42peptide. In addition, it was also found that pretreatment with DM decreased cognitive damage induced by Aβpeptide via enhancing the cholinergic system and antioxidant defense system in mice. Furthermore, the study verified that the change in the expression of both cyclic-adenosine monophosphate response element binding protein and of brain-derived neurotrophic factor in the hippocampus in Aβpeptide-treated mice was significantlyamelioratedafter treatment with DM. Accordingly, these results suggest that pretreatment with DM defends against oxidative stress and cognitive impairment caused by Aβpeptide.