Open AccessAmeliorating effects of essential oil from Acori graminei rhizoma on learning and memory in aged rats and mice
Author(s) -
Zhang Hong,
Han Ting,
Yu ChengHao,
Rahman Khalid,
Qin LuPing,
Peng Cheng
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
journal of pharmacy and pharmacology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.745
H-Index - 118
eISSN - 2042-7158
pISSN - 0022-3573
DOI - 10.1211/jpp.59.2.0016
Subject(s) - dopamine , acetylcholinesterase , essential oil , serotonin , aché , norepinephrine , pharmacology , medicine , cognition , morris water navigation task , psychology , chemistry , endocrinology , neuroscience , biochemistry , food science , enzyme , receptor
Although there are normal cognitive changes that take place as a person becomes older, ageing in humans is generally associated with a deterioration of cognitive performance, in particular of learning and memory. There are a number of herbal medicines that are reported to improve brain function and intelligence. In the present study, the ameliorating effects of an essential oil extracted from Acori graminei rhizoma on learning and memory in aged, dysmnesia rats and mice were determined using the step‐down passive avoidance test and Y maze. Oral administration of the essential oil (0.02, 0.04 and 0.08 g kg −1 ) to rats for 30 days and to mice for 15 days improved the latency and number of errors in aged, dysmnesia rats and mice. The cerebral neurotransmitters in aged rats given the essential oil (0.02, 0.04, 0.08 g kg −1 ) for 30 days were also investigated, and increased levels of norepinephrine, dopamine and serotonin, and decreased levels of acetylcholinesterase activity were found. The results suggest that the essential oil improves cognitive function in aged animals possibly by increasing norepinephrine, dopamine and serotonin relative levels, and by decreasing the activity of acetylcholinesterase in the cerebra.