Osthole Improves Aspects of Spatial Performance in Ovariectomized Rats

Abstract

The present study was designed to investigate the ameliorating effects of Cnidiuim monnieri L. Cusson (CM) and osthole, a constituent of CM, on the spatial performance deficit in scopolamine (SCOP)-treated or ovariectomized (OVA) rats. CM improved the deficit of spatial performance, and reversed the lower plasma estradiol levels caused by SCOP in female rats. In addition, osthole (3 and 10 mg/kg, s.c.) improved the performance deficit in OVA rats. It (10 and 30 micrograms/brain, icv) also improved the performance deficit caused by SCOP in intact female rats, and at 30 micrograms/brain improved the deficit in OVA rats. However, osthole did not alter the latency swum to reach the visible target in SCOP-treated and OVA rats. Accordingly, we suggested that osthole is an active constituent of CM, and possesses ameliorating effects on the spatial performance deficits in SCOP-treated female rats or OVA rats. The action mechanism of the effects of osthole on performance deficits was related to the estrogen-like properties and activating the central cholinergic neuronal system.

Petroleum ether extract of Cnidium monnieri ameliorated scopolamine-induced amnesia through adrenal gland-mediated mechanism in male rats

“…In summary, the results of the present study and our previous report (Hsieh et al, 2004) proved that CM ameliorated the impairment of inhibitory avoidance learning performance and Morris water maze induced by SCOP in male and female rats. Then, osthole, isolated from petroleum ether layer of CM (Cai et al, 2000), also ameliorated the memory deficit induced by SCOP (Shen et al, 1999;Hsieh et al, 2004) and might be a major ingredient of CM on memory-improving effect.…”

“…Some pharmacological reports suggest that CM possesses estrogen-like and anti-senescent effects (Liu et al, 2005;Zhang et al, 2006). Our previous study found petroleum ether layer of CM and its ingredient -osthole could alleviate scopolamine-induced amnesia via its estrogen-like property in female rats (Hsieh et al, 2004). The series reports of Qin pointed out its total coumarins and ingredient -osthole ameliorated learning impairment and strengthened the function of pituitary-adrenocortical axis in Kidney-Yang deficiency rats induced by continuous administration of hydrocortisone acetate (Qin et al, 1997a;Qin et al, 1997b).…”

Anthelmintic activity of the crude extracts, fractions, and osthole from Radix angelicae pubescentis against Dactylogyrus intermedius in goldfish (Carassius auratus) in vivo

“…Osthol is an important coumarin compound for its extensive medical activities including anti-inflammatory (Liu et al 2005), antitumor (Chou et al 2007), prevention of atherosclerosis (Ogawa et al 2007), anti-aging (Hsieh et al 2004), and antiproliferative (Guh et al 1996) properties. Osthol also has been used to control crop insects (Xia et al 2009;Ya et al 2006) and pathogenic bacterium Huang et al 2005).…”

N-Succinyl-chitosan nanoparticles coupled with low-density lipoprotein for targeted osthole-loaded delivery to low-density lipoprotein receptor-rich tumors

“…[5][6][7][8][9] Ost has various pharmacological and biological applications, and current research is focused on its antitumor activity. Several previous studies have reported that Ost is effective in inducing cell apoptosis, arresting cell cycle, and inhibiting cell proliferation.…”