Cinnamon Converts Poor Learning Mice to Good Learners: Implications for Memory Improvement

Abstract

This study underlines the importance of cinnamon, a commonly used natural spice and flavoring material, and its metabolite sodium benzoate (NaB) in converting poor learning mice to good learning ones. NaB, but not sodium formate, was found to upregulate plasticity-related molecules, stimulate NMDA- and AMPA-sensitive calcium influx and increase of spine density in cultured hippocampal neurons. NaB induced the activation of CREB in hippocampal neurons via protein kinase A (PKA), which was responsible for the upregulation of plasticity-related molecules. Finally, spatial memory consolidation-induced activation of CREB and expression of different plasticity-related molecules were less in the hippocampus of poor learning mice as compared to good learning ones. However, oral treatment of cinnamon and NaB increased spatial memory consolidation-induced activation of CREB and expression of plasticity-related molecules in the hippocampus of poor-learning mice and converted poor learners into good learners. These results describe a novel property of cinnamon in switching poor learners to good learners via stimulating hippocampal plasticity.

Stimulation of Dopamine Production by Sodium Benzoate, a Metabolite of Cinnamon and a Food Additive1

“…NaB was solubilized in water and 9-month-old male A53T transgenic mice were treated with NaB (50 mg/kg body wt/d) via gavage for 30 d. Similarly, in another set, 8–10-week-old C57/BL6 male mice (Harlan Sprague Dawley, Indianapolis, IN) were also treated with NaB. Earlier we have seen neuroprotection in this particular dose of NaB and duration of treatment [ 17 ].…”

Aspirin up‐regulates suppressor of cytokine signaling 3 in glial cells via PPARα

“…Western blotting was conducted as described before with modifications (Corbett et al ; Modi et al ). Briefly, cells were scraped in 1X RIPA buffer, protein was measured using Bradford reagent and sodium dodecyl sulfate buffer was added and electrophoresed on NuPAGE® Novex® 4–12% Bis‐Tris gels (Life Technologies, Grand Island, NY, USA) and proteins transferred onto a nitrocellulose membrane (Bio‐Rad), using the Thermo‐Pierce Fast Semi‐Dry Blotter.…”

Upregulation of Suppressor of Cytokine Signaling 3 in Microglia by Cinnamic Acid

“…Western blotting was performed as described earlier (12,23,25) with some modifications. Briefly, cells were scraped with SDS sample buffer, electrophoreses on NuPAGE® Novex® 4–12% Bis-Tris gels (Invitrogen) and proteins transferred onto a nitrocellulose membrane (Bio-Rad).…”