COGNITION AND MEMORY FUNCTION OF TARAXACUM COREANUM IN AN IN VIVO AMYLOID-B-INDUCED MOUSE MODEL OF ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE

Abstract

We investigated whether the ethyl acetate fraction of Taraxacum coreanum (ETC) had a protective effect against memory impairment in an amyloid beta (A beta)-induced mouse model of Alzheimer's disease (AD). The formation of A beta in the brain is a hallmark of AD. We examined whether oxidative stress contributes to learning and memory deficits using the T-maze test, the object recognition test, and the Morris water maze test in mice injected with A beta. Cognition and memory function were significantly impaired in mice injected with A beta, as compared to the normal group. However, mice that received ETC orally at doses of 50 or 100 mg/kg/day for 2 weeks showed high recognition behavior of tasks. ETC may have prevented oxidative stress to the brain tissue by reducing lipid peroxidation levels and a NO scavenger. ETC could be useful for the prevention and treatment of AD.