Effect of Black Ginseng on Memory Improvement in the Amnesic Mice Induced by Scopolamine

This study compared the effects of black, white, and red ginseng extracts (WGE, RGE, BGE, 200 ㎎/㎏, p.o.) on learning and memory deficits associated with scopolamine treatment (SCOP, 2 ㎎/㎏, i.p.). Tacrine (THA, 10 ㎎/㎏, p.o.) was used as a positive control. Ginseng significantly reversed SCOP-induced memory impairment in the passiveavoidance test and also reduced escape latency in training trials of the Morris water maze test. The increased acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity produced by SCOP was significantly inhibited by WGE and RGE (p＜0.001). SCOP administration had no effect on choline acetyltransferase (ChAT) activity, but RGE and BGE significantly increased ChAT activity (p＜0.05). SCOP administration increased oxidative damage in the brain. Treatment of amnesic mice with ginseng extracts decreased malondialdehyde (MDA) levels and restored superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) activity to control levels. These results suggest that black ginseng enhances cognitive activity by regulation of cholinergic enzymes and antioxidant systems.