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Effect of <i>Cistanche deserticola</i> Ma extract on memory of aged mice


Gui-fang Zhang
Li-shi Yin
Chao Zhang
Hai-yan Luo

Abstract

Purpose: To assess the memory-enhancing effect of Cistanche deserticola Ma (Orobanchaceae) extract (CDME) on normal aged mice.

Methods: An open-field test was used to study the effects of various doses of CDME on mouse locomotive activity. The mice were sacrificed following the locomotor test and the brain dissected to investigate the effects of CDME on catalase (CAT) and acetyl cholinesterase (AChE) activities in mouse brain tissue.

Results: Compared with the control aged group, CDME (400 mg/kg) significantly reduced the total distance traveled (3312.5 ± 119.3 cm, p < 0.05), increased brain CAT activity (107.6 ± 11.8U/mg pro, p < 0.05), and inhibited brain AChE activity (0.89 ± 0.13 U/mg pro, p < 0.05) in CDME-exposed mice.

Conclusion: The results show that CDME improves memory function in mice, probably by increasing the activity of CAT and decreasing AChE activity.

Keywords: Cistanche deserticola Ma, Memory function, Catalase, Acetyl cholinesterase, Open-field test


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eISSN: 1596-9827
print ISSN: 1596-5996