Improvement in Long-Term Memory following Chronic Administration of Eryngium planum Root Extract in Scopolamine Model: Behavioral and Molecular Study

Abstract EN

Eryngium planum L.

(EP) is as a rare medicinal plant with a lot of potentials as pharmaceutical crops.

The aim of our study was to assess the effect of subchronic (28-fold) administration of a 70% ethanol extract of EP roots (200 mg/kg, p.o.) on behavioral and cognitive responses in Wistar rats linked with acetylcholinesterase (AChE), butyrylcholinesterase (BuChE), and beta-secretase (BACE-1) mRNA levels and AChE and BuChE activities in the hippocampus and frontal cortex.

On the last day of experiment, 30 min after the last dose of EP or Huperzine A (HU), scopolamine (SC) was given at a dose of 0.5 mg/kg b.w.

intraperitoneally.

The results of a passive avoidance test showed an improvement in long-term memory produced by the EP extract in both scopolamine-induced rats and control group.

EP caused an insignificant inhibition of AChE and BuChE activities in the frontal cortex and the hippocampus.

EP decreased mRNA AChE, BuChE, and BACE-1 levels, especially in the cortex.

Our results suggest that the EP extract led to the improvement of the long-term memory in rats coupled with total saponin content.

The mechanism of EP action is probably complicated, since HPLC-MS analysis showed 64 chemical compounds (phenolics, saponins) in the extract of EP roots.