Effects of Epimedium flavanoids on learning and memory ability in Alzheimer's disease mouse model

Objective To investigate the effects of Epimedium flavanoids(EF)on learning and memory ability in Alzheimer's disease(AD)mouse model induced by β-amyloid(Aβ)lateral ventricle injection. Methods ICR mice were divided into normal group, sham operation group, model group, positive control drug(Ibuprofen)group, EF low dose(0.03 g/kg),middle dose(0.1 g/kg)and high dose(0.3 g/kg)groups. The model was induced by injecting Aβ1-40 into right lateral ventricle of mice. In the treatment groups, EF was introgastrically administrated 14 d before injection and 7 d after injection. The learning and memory ability was determined by Morris water maze, step through and spontaneous locomotor activity tests. Results The function of learning-memory was signifcantly decreased in mouse model induced by Aβ lateral ventricle injection. Administration of middle and high dose EF significantly decreased the escape latency[(40.12±4.15)s,(34.99±5.49)s]and swimming distanee[(648.36±88.42)cm,(781.57±104.41)cm]than that of the model group(65.45±5.15)s,(1142.66±96.80)cm.P＜0.01)in Moms water maze test,and prolonged the latent period[(255.40±11.00)s,(257.46±19.50)s]and decreased the error times(0.80±0.14,0.77±0.17)in step-through test significantly, compared with the model mice[(196.27±25.47)s,(1.47±0.31)](P＜0.05).In the spontaneous locomotor activity experiment, no obvious difference was found among all groups(P＞0.05).Conclusion EF significantly improved the learning and memory ability in AD mouse model induced by A∞1-40 lateral ventricle injection. Key words: Learning and memory; β-amyloid; Alzheimer's disease; Epimedium flavanoids