Amelioration of Scopolamine‐Induced Learning and Memory Impairment by α‐Pinene in C57BL/6 Mice

Abstract

Increasing evidence suggests that neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer's disease (AD) are mediated via disruption of cholinergic neurons and enhanced oxidative stress. Therefore, attention has been focused on searching for antioxidant phytochemicals for the prevention and/or treatment of AD through their ability to fortify cholinergic function and antioxidant defense capacity. In this study, we have investigated the neuroprotective effect of α-pinene (APN) against learning and memory impairment induced by scopolamine (SCO, 1 mg/kg, i.p.), a muscarinic receptor antagonist in C57BL/6 mice. Administration of APN (10 mg/kg, i.p.) significantly improved SCO-induced cognitive dysfunction as assessed by Y-maze and passive avoidance tests. In Morris water-maze test, APN effectively shortened the mean escape latency to find the hidden platform during training days. To further elucidate the molecular mechanisms underlying the neuroprotective effect of APN, the expression of proteins involved in the acetylcholine metabolism and antioxidant system was examined. Particularly, APN treatment increased mRNA expression of choline acetyltransferase in the cortex and protein levels of antioxidant enzymes such as heme oxygenase-1 and manganese superoxide dismutase in the hippocampus via activation of NF-E2-related factor 2. These findings suggest the possible neuroprotective potentials of APN for the management of dementia with learning and memory loss.

Huperzine A ameliorates cognitive dysfunction and neuroinflammation in kainic acid‐induced epileptic rats by antioxidant activity and NLRP3/caspase‐1 pathway inhibition

“…Moreover, learning and memory impairment related to AD arises from damage to cholinergic neurons. Cholinergic deficit has been considered as a marker of neurological pathology that is correlated to memory disturbance and constantly associated with the severity of cognitive disorders in AD . In this research, kainic acid injection significantly increased AChE activity and Hup‐A could reduce the activity of this enzyme.…”

Cognitive Facilitation and Antioxidant Effects of an Essential Oil Mix on Scopolamine-Induced Amnesia in Rats: Molecular Modeling of In Vitro and In Vivo Approaches

“…Further, among the components evidenced in the essential oil from alpine needle leaves of Abies koreana, γ-terpinene exhibited a memory-enhancing effect on Sco-induced amnesia in mice [16]. Lee et al [17] also reported that α-pinene has an ameliorative effect on Sco-induced learning and memory impairment in C57BL/6 mice. These findings indicated that the memory-ameliorating effect of the MO and anti-AChE properties could be attributed to the presence of these compounds.…”

In Silico and in Vivo Pharmacological Studies of Clozapine and D-Amino Acid Oxidase Inhibitor for Cognitive Enhancement

“…Impairment of memory and learning and the foremost characteristic manifestation of psychological feature dysfunction are caused by scopolamine, a cholinergic antagonist which interferes with neurotransmitter transmission within the central nervous system [17,18]. The Fig.…”