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Theanine prevents memory impairment induced by repeated cerebral ischemia in rats
Author(s) -
Egashira Nobuaki,
Ishigami Noriko,
Pu Fengling,
Mishima Kenichi,
Iwasaki Katsunori,
Orito Kensuke,
Oishi Ryozo,
Fujiwara Michihiro
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
phytotherapy research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.019
H-Index - 129
eISSN - 1099-1573
pISSN - 0951-418X
DOI - 10.1002/ptr.2261
Subject(s) - ischemia , hippocampal formation , neuroprotection , camellia sinensis , memory impairment , theanine , medicine , hippocampus , pharmacology , neuroscience , anesthesia , biology , green tea , botany , cognition , food science , psychiatry
The present study investigated the neuroprotective effect of γ ‐glutamylethylamide (theanine), a component Japanese green tea ( Camellia sinensis ), on memory impairment induced by twice‐repeated cerebral ischemia in rats. Theanine was injected i.p. immediately after the first occlusion. Theanine (0.3 and 1 mg/kg) significantly prevented the impairment of spatial memory in rats subjected to repeated cerebral ischemia, 7 days after the second reperfusion. Moreover, theanine (1 mg/kg) significantly inhibited the decrease in the number of surviving cells in the hippocampal CA1 field in the same rats. These results suggest that theanine prevents memory impairment induced by repeated cerebral ischemia, in part by protecting against neuronal cell death, and that it might be useful for preventing cerebrovascular disease. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.