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http://dx.doi.org/10.5142/JGR.2008.32.4.341

Effects of white ginseng and red ginseng extract on learning performance and acetylcholinesterase activity inhibition  

Lee, Mi-Ra (Department of Food Science and Technology, Chungnam National University)
Sun, Bai-Shen (Department of Food Science and Technology, Chungnam National University)
Gu, Li-Juan (Department of Food Science and Technology, Chungnam National University)
Wang, Chun-Yan (Department of Food Science and Technology, Chungnam National University)
Mo, Eun-Kyoung (DBIO Research Institute)
Yang, Sun-Ah (DBIO Research Institute)
Ly, Sun-Young (Department of Food and Nutrition, Chungnam National University)
Sung, Chang-Keun (Department of Food Science and Technology, Chungnam National University)
Publication Information
Journal of Ginseng Research / v.32, no.4, 2008 , pp. 341-346 More about this Journal
Abstract
In the present study, we assessed the effects of white ginseng and red ginseng extract on the learning and memory impairments induced by scopolamine. The cognition-enhancing effect of ginseng extracts was investigated using the Morris water maze and Y-maze test. Drug-induced amnesia was induced by treating animals with scopolamine (2 mg/kg, i.p.), an antagonist of muscarinic acetylcholine (ACh) receptor. Tacrine was used a positive control. Ginseng extract (200 mg/kg, p.o.), tacrine (10 mg/kg, p.o.) administration significantly reduced the escape latency during training in the Morris water maze (p<0.05). At the probe trial session, scopolamine significantly increased the escape latency on day 5 in comparison with control (p<0.01). The effect of ginseng extracts on spontaneous alternation in Y-maze was similar to that of scopolamine treated group. In addition, numbers of arm entries were similar in all experimental groups. Moreover, red ginseng extract significantly inhibited acetylcholinesterase activity in the cortex and serum (p<0.05). Brain ACh contents of ginseng extract treated groups increased more than that of scopolamine group, which did not show statistically significant. These results suggest that ginseng extract may be useful for the treatment of cognitive impairment.
Keywords
Scopolamine; Ginseng; Morris water maze; Y-maze; Acetylcholinesterase;
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