Beneficial Effects of Different Polygonum multiflorum Thunb. Extracts on Memory and Hippocampus Morphology

Abstract

SummaryFour groups of 1-mo-old male senescence-accelerated mice (SAMP8) were fed Polygonum multiflorum Thunb. (PM) extract for 18wk to determine the effect of PM on memory ability and histopathological changes in mice. The baseline diet consisted of a ca sein diet group, and the three test diets were supplemented with 50% ethanol, 95% ethanol, or water extracts of PM. It was found that the mice fed with PM extracts had better active shuttle avoidance response, fewer vacuole numbers, less lipofuscin in the hippocampus, and lower MDA concentrations in the brain. Our data showed that the ethanol PM extract groups (both 50% and 95% groups) had lower lipofuscin percentages and MDA concentra tions, and higher total thiol concentrations than the water PM extract group. The 50% ethanol PM extract group showed significantly lower total cholesterol and triglyceride val ues than the other groups, but the HDL cholesterol level was the same. These results suggest that dietary supplementation with either ethanol or water extracts can reduce brain patho logical changes and promote learning and memory ability. The performance of PM extracts depended on the extraction method, with ethanol extraction tending to obtain better re sults.

Protective effect of Polygonum multiflorum Thunb on amyloid β-peptide 25-35 induced cognitive deficits in mice

“…Also, previous studies have shown that PM ethanol extract suppressed lipid peroxidation in the mitochondria of rat heart (Chen et al, 1999). Chan et al (2002) demonstrated that PM ethanol extract significantly improved learning and memory deficits in SAMP8 (a murine AD model), and lowered lipofuscin percentages and MDA concentrations in hippocampus, and increased total thiol concentrations. Catalase, SOD, and GPx are involved in the reduction in reactive oxygen species and peroxides produced in living organisms as well as in the detoxification of certain compounds of exogenous origin, and thus play a primary role in the maintenance of a balanced redox status (Kweon et al, 2003).…”

“…Chen et al (1999) and 2,3,5,4 -tetrahydroxystilbene-2-O-␤-d-glucoside in the ethyl acetate fraction of PM extracts showed strong antioxidant activities. Chan et al (2002) showed that PM ethanol extract supplemented groups had a lower percentage of lipofuscin and a lower malondialdehyde (MDA) concentration in the brain. In screening study of AChE inhibitory activity and neuroprotective effect from some medicinal plants used in oriental medicines, we found out that PM water extract (PWE) showed a potent protective effect against A␤-induced neuronal cell death and AChE inhibitory activity in vitro.…”

Tetrahydroxystilbene Glucoside Improves TNF-α-Induced Endothelial Dysfunction: Involvement of TGFβ/Smad Pathway and Inhibition of Vimentin Expression

“…PM and its extracts can be used to treat various diseases, such as cognitive deficiencies and cardiovascular disorders (Chan et al, 2002(Chan et al, , 2003Yang et al, 2005;Um et al, 2006;Liu et al, 2007). 2,3,5,4 0 -Tetrahydroxystilbene-2-O-β-D-glucoside (TSG; Fig.…”

Hexane extract from Polygonum multiflorum attenuates glutamate-induced apoptosis in primary cultured cortical neurons

“…This plant has recently been reported to possess various pharmacological activities, including HEPM (μ μg/ml) anti-aging, anti-inflammation, and anti-cholesterolemic, and to ameliorate learning disorders (Chan et al, 2002;Wang et al, 2007;Yang et al, 2005;Zhang et al, 2007). In addition, Polygonum multiflorum has also been reported to have neuroprotective effects; in particular, stilbene glycoside, a major active component extracted from rhizome, has been reported to protect neurons in both in vivo and in vitro models of cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury (Wang et al, 2009;Ye et al, 2006).…”