Xu Xiao-Hong, Zhao Tie-Qiao
College of Life and Environment Sciences, Zhejiang Normal University, Jinhua 321004, China.
Acta Pharmacol Sin. 2002 Jul;23(7):587-90.
To study the effects of puerarin on learning-memory behavior in aging mice induced by D-galactose and to explore in-brain mechanism of its effects.
The aging mice model were induced by sc D-galactose 0.12 g/kg daily for 6 weeks and meanwhile treated with three doses of puerarin once a day for 6 weeks. The spontaneous behavior and the learning-memory behavior were tested for the aging mice using open field and Y-maze on the day after the last treatment. Then the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and the contents of malondialdehyde (MDA) and lipofuscin in brain tissue were measured using UV-photospectrometer and fluorospectrophotometer analysis system.
Compared with the D-galactose control group, puerarin 60 mg/kg was shown to increase significantly the spontaneous behavior and explorative response in the open field and improve remarkably the learning-memory ability of the aging mice induced by D-galactose. The percentage of memory retention increased from 69 %+/-9 % to 79 %+/-6 %. Puerarin 30 mg/kg and 60 mg/kg promoted remarkably the activity of SOD in the brain of the aging mice from (12.1+/-2.9) to (14.9+/-2.1) and(15.5+/-2.7) U/g wet brain weight, respectively, and decreased significantly the content of lipofuscin from (27+/-5) to (20+/-4) and (20+/-4) microg/g wet brain weight, respectively.
Puerarin could improve the memory dysfunction produced by D-galactose. Improvement of the antioxidase activity of brain in the aging mice may be involved in this effect.
研究葛根素对D-半乳糖致衰老小鼠学习记忆行为的影响，并探讨其作用的脑内机制。
采用皮下注射D-半乳糖0.12 g/kg，每日1次，连续6周的方法制备衰老小鼠模型，同时给予3个剂量的葛根素，每日1次，连续6周。末次给药后次日，用旷场试验和Y迷宫试验检测衰老小鼠的自发行为和学习记忆行为。然后用紫外分光光度计和荧光分光光度计分析系统测定脑组织中超氧化物歧化酶（SOD）活性、丙二醛（MDA）和脂褐素含量。
与D-半乳糖对照组相比，60 mg/kg葛根素能显著增加衰老小鼠在旷场试验中的自发行为和探索反应，明显改善D-半乳糖致衰老小鼠的学习记忆能力。记忆保持率从69%±9%提高到79%±6%。30 mg/kg和60 mg/kg葛根素能显著提高衰老小鼠脑内SOD活性，分别从（12.1±2.9）提高到（14.9±2.1）和（15.5±2.7）U/g湿脑重，同时显著降低脂褐素含量，分别从（27±5）降低到（20±4）和（20±4）μg/g湿脑重。
葛根素可改善D-半乳糖所致的记忆功能障碍。提高衰老小鼠脑内抗氧化酶活性可能参与了这一作用。
