Department of Physiology (Neuroscience Program) and Graduate School, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Thailand.
J Ethnopharmacol. 2010 Jan 8;127(1):26-31. doi: 10.1016/j.jep.2009.09.056. Epub 2009 Oct 4.
Bacopa monnieri (L.) Wettst., a plant belonging to the family Scrophulariaceae, has been used in the traditional system of Ayurvedic medicine to improve intelligence and memory for a long time. Therefore, the potential of this plant to protect against Alzheimer's disease has been raised but less supported document is available.
To determine the effect of alcoholic extract of Bacopa monnieri on cognitive function and neurodegeneration in animal model of Alzheimer's disease induced by ethylcholine aziridinium ion (AF64A).
Male Wistar rats were orally given the alcoholic extract of Bacopa monnieri at doses of 20, 40 and 80 mg/kg BW via feeding needle for a period of 2 weeks before and 1 week after the intracerebroventricular administration of AF64A bilaterally. Rats were tested for spatial memory using Morris water maze test and the density of neurons and cholinergic neurons was determined using histological techniques 7 days after AF64A administration.
Bacopa monnieri extract improved the escape latency time (p<.01) in Morris water maze test. Moreover, the reduction of neurons and cholinergic neuron densities were also mitigated.
These findings suggest that Bacopa monnieri is a potential cognitive enhancer and neuroprotectant against Alzheimer's disease.
Bacopa monnieri（L.） Wettst.，玄参科植物，长期以来一直被用于印度传统医学阿育吠陀系统中，以提高智力和记忆力。因此，人们提出了这种植物预防阿尔茨海默病的潜力，但支持的文献较少。
确定 Bacopa monnieri 醇提物对乙基胆碱氮离子（AF64A）诱导的阿尔茨海默病动物模型认知功能和神经退行性变的影响。
雄性 Wistar 大鼠通过喂食针口服给予 Bacopa monnieri 醇提物，剂量分别为 20、40 和 80mg/kg BW，在双侧侧脑室给予 AF64A 前 2 周和后 1 周进行。使用 Morris 水迷宫测试评估大鼠的空间记忆，并用组织学技术测定 AF64A 给药后 7 天神经元和胆碱能神经元的密度。
Bacopa monnieri 提取物可改善 Morris 水迷宫测试中的逃避潜伏期（p<.01）。此外，神经元和胆碱能神经元密度的减少也得到了缓解。
这些发现表明 Bacopa monnieri 是一种潜在的认知增强剂和神经保护剂，可预防阿尔茨海默病。
