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Planta Med 2019; 85(17): 1363-1373
DOI: 10.1055/a-1018-5402
Biological and Pharmacological Activity
Original Papers
Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Lespedeza bicolor Extract Improves Amyloid Beta25 – 35-Induced Memory Impairments by Upregulating BDNF and Activating Akt, ERK, and CREB Signaling in Mice

Yong-Hyun Ko‡
1   Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon, Republic of Korea
,
Kyu-Yeon Shim‡
1   Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon, Republic of Korea
,
Seon-Kyung Kim
1   Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon, Republic of Korea
,
Jee-Yeon Seo
1   Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon, Republic of Korea
,
Bo-Ram Lee
1   Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon, Republic of Korea
,
Kwang-Hyun Hur
1   Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon, Republic of Korea
,
Young-Jung Kim
1   Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon, Republic of Korea
,
Seong-Eon Kim
1   Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon, Republic of Korea
,
Moon Ho Do
2   College of Pharmacy, Gachon University, Incheon, Republic of Korea
,
Amna Parveen
2   College of Pharmacy, Gachon University, Incheon, Republic of Korea
,
Sun Yeou Kim
2   College of Pharmacy, Gachon University, Incheon, Republic of Korea
,
Seok-Yong Lee
1   Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon, Republic of Korea
,
Choon-Gon Jang
1   Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon, Republic of Korea
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History

received 17 June 2019
revised 02 September 2019

accepted 18 September 2019

Publication Date:
16 October 2019 (online)

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Abstract

Lespedeza bicolor, a traditional herbal medicine widely used in Australia, North America, and Eastern Asia, has various therapeutic effects on inflammation, nephritis, hyperpigmentation, and diuresis. In this study, to evaluate the effects of L. bicolor on cognitive function, we examined whether L. bicolor improved amyloid beta-induced memory impairment and assessed the possible mechanisms in mice. Catechin, rutin, daidzein, luteolin, naringenin, and genistein were identified in the powdered extract of L. bicolor by HPCL-DAD analyses. In behavioral experiments, L. bicolor (25 and 50 mg/kg, p. o.) significantly improved amyloid beta25 – 35 (6 nmol, intracerebroventricular)-induced cognitive dysfunction in the Y-maze, novel recognition, and passive avoidance tests. Our molecular studies showed L. bicolor (25 and 50 mg/kg, p. o.) significantly recovered the reduced glutathione content as well as increased thiobarbituric acid reactive substance and acetylcholinesterase activities in the hippocampus. Furthermore, we found that L. bicolor significantly increased the expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor, and phospho-Akt, extracellular signal-regulated kinase, and cAMP response element binding caused by amyloid beta25 – 35 in the hippocampus. In conclusion, L. bicolor exerts a potent memory-enhancing effect on cognitive dysfunction induced by amyloid beta25 – 35 in mice.

Key words

Lespedeza bicolor - Leguminosae - amyloid beta - learning and memory - brain-derived neurotrophic factor - Alzheimerʼs disease

Supporting Information

    Details regarding the injection of Aβ 25 – 35 into the mice are available as Supporting Information.

  • Supporting Information
 

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