Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the most common cognitive disorder in the elderly population. However, effective pharmacological agents targeting AD have not been developed. The processed Polygoni multiflori Radix (PPM) and its main active substance, 2,3,5,4′-tetrahydroxystilbene-2-O-β-glucoside (TSG), has received considerable attention, majorly due to its neuroprotective activities against multiple biological activities within the human body. In this study, we provide new evidence on the therapeutic effect of PPM and TSG during cognitive impairment by evaluating the ameliorative potential of PPM and TSG in scopolamine-induced amnesia in ICR mice. PPM (100 or 200 mg/kg) was orally administered during the experimental period (days 1–15), and scopolamine was intraperitoneally injected to induce cognitive deficits during the behavioural test periods (days 8–15). The administration of PPM and TSG significantly improved memory loss and cognitive dysfunction in behavioural tests and regulated the cholinergic function, brain-derived neurotrophic factor, and neural apoptosis. The present study suggests that PPM and TSG improved scopolamine-induced cognitive dysfunction, but further study has to be supported for the clinical application of PPM and TSG for AD prevention and treatment.

This study investigated the changes in the physiochemical property, phytochemical content, nutritional content and antioxidant activity of Polygoni multiflori Radix by steam, aging, and fermentation. After processing Polygoni multiflori Radix (PMR), pH slightly decreased, while acidity increased (pH 5.70 →4.78, acidity 0.23→0.29%). The reducing sugar content increased after aging and fermentation from 1.19 mg/g (PMR) to 1.40 (fermented PMR, FPMR), 1.30 (red PMR, RPMR), 1.53 (fermented red PMR, FRPMR), 1.99 (black PMR, BPMR), and 2.33 mg/g (fermented black PMR, FBPMR). Total phenolic content was highest in PMR (6.05 mg/g) and total flavonoids and maillard product were increased after aging and fermentation of PMR, and were the highest in BPMR (1.60 mg/g) and FBPMR (2.76 O.D.), respectively. The major phytochemical was 2,3,5,4ʹtetrahydroxystilbene-2-0-α-glucoside, which were highest in PMR (64.9 mg/g) with 46.47 mg/g at FPMR, 33.94 mg/g at RPMR, 48.76 mg/g at FRPMR, 36.68 mg/g at BPMR and 34.35 mg/g at FBPMR. The main fatty acids and free amino acids were detected as palmitic acid (C16:0) and proline, respectively. Generally, 2,2diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl and 2,2'-azino-bis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) diammonium salt radical scavenging activities and FRAP reducing powers were shown high in PMR (39.06%, 98.32%, and 2.61 O.D. in extracts concentration 1.0 mg/ mL), then were decreased after aging and fermentation.