Effects of Puerarin on Scopolamine-, Mecamylamine-,p-Chloroamphetamine- and Dizocilpine-Induced Inhibitory Avoidance Performance Impairment in Rats

Abstract

Puerarin at 10-50 mg/kg attenuated the mecamylamine- but not scopolamine-induced acquisition impairment of inhibitory avoidance performance in an inverse U-shape manner. p-Chloroamphetamine- and dizocilpine-induced acquisition impairment were reversed by puerarin at 25-50 mg/kg. Both piracetam, and tacrine attenuated impairment of inhibitory avoidance performance induced by all used drugs. Furthermore, puerarin, piracetam and tacrine alone did not alter step-through latency in the training trail but puerarin at 50 mg/kg and tacrine plus mecamylamine prolonged it in comparison with mecamylamine alone. From these results, we suggest that puerarin attenuated the deficits of inhibitory avoidance performance induced by mecamylamine, p-chloroamphetamine, and dizocilpine, the effects were related to increasing cholinergic activity via nicotinic but not muscarinic receptors, activating NMDA receptors, and decreasing serotonergic neuronal activity.

Effect of Tianma Gouteng Decoction with Subtractive Ingredients and Its Active Constituents on Memory Acquisition

“…Scoplamine (SCOP) is a muscarinic antagonist, decreasing cholinergic activity and impairing learning acquisition (Elord and Buccafusco, 1988;Rush, 1988;Okaichi et al, 1989). Therefore, SCOP is used as a drug to induce the impairment of learning acquisition (Hsieh et al, 2002). In our previous study, the control values were similar whether there was an injection of SCOP or not.…”

“…The mouse was then again placed in the illuminated compartment and as in the case of training trial, the guillotine door was opened and the step-through latency was recorded and used as a measure of retention (Worms et al, 1989). The maximum entry latency allowed in the training and retention session was 300 sec (Hsieh et al, 2002). TGDS0 (0.5, 1, 2.5 g/kg) and its active constituents, TGDS1-4 (0.5 g/kg) were administered orally to the mice 1 hour (Ho et al, 2005) before the training trial.…”

Response of Cluster Headache to Kudzu

“…The isoflavone puerarin, which is the principal component in kudzu, 19 has hypoglycemic properties and increases coronary blood flow, reducing the frequency of acute angina events 20 and normalizing endothelin, renin, angiotensin II post‐myocardial infarction in 3 days 21 . Puerarin attenuates mecamylamine‐induced deficits in inhibitory avoidance performance in rats, presumably through nicotinic‐receptor agonism and N‐methyl‐D‐aspartic acid (NMDA) agonism and serotonin decrease 22 . It does not act as a beta‐blocker or calcium antagonist, however 23 .…”

“…21 Puerarin attenuates mecamylamine-induced deficits in inhibitory avoidance performance in rats, presumably through nicotinic-receptor agonism and N-methyl-D-aspartic acid (NMDA) agonism and serotonin decrease. 22 It does not act as a beta-blocker or calcium antagonist, however. 23 The 3 times daily dosing of kudzu that appears necessary to ameliorate cluster headache is consistent with puerarin's pharmacokinetic profile.…”

Review on Experimental Research of Herbal Medicines with Anti-Amnesic Activity

“…1), isolated from P. lobata, has exhibited attenuation of mecamylamine-, p-chloroamphetamine-or dizocilpine-induced inhibitory avoidance performance deficits but not the scopolamine-induced one. The beneficial effect of puerarin might be attributed to the enhanced cholinergic activity via nicotinic but not muscarinic receptors as well as activated NMDA receptors and decreased serotonergic neuronal activity [60]. Pueraria thunbergiana (Siebold.…”