Effects of <i>Anredera cordifolia</i> extract intake on learning and memory in senescence-accelerated mouse-prone 8 (SAMP8) mice

Abstract

Anredera cordifolia (AC) is a perennial plant of the Basellaceae family, and is attracting attention as a health food because it is easy to cultivate and has high nutritional value. So far, it has been reported that AC has an improving effect on lipid abnormalities and hypertension in mice and rats. However, it is not known how long-term administration of AC extract affects the central nervous function. In this study, we investigated the effects of an oral intake of AC extract on learning and memory using the senescence accelerated mouse-prone 8 (SAMP8) mouse. SAMP8 mice (15 weeks old) were divided into two groups; a tap water intake group (CN: n = 10) and an AC extract water intake group (AC: n = 9) for 34 weeks under the free-feeding condition. Learning and memory function was assessed using Novel object recognition (NOR) task (age of 23 weeks) and the Morris water maze (MWM) task (aged 30 weeks). Following the completion of behavioral tests, blood biochemistry parameters and hippocampal levels of brain-derived neurotropic factor, postsynaptic density protein 95, NR2A, and p-cAMP-response element binding (CREB)/CREB ratio were measured. The AC group spent more time exploring the novel object in the NOR task, and showed better acquisition and retention in the MWM task than the CN group. In addition, AC elevated the levels of the aforementioned neuronal plasticity-related proteins, and did not affect blood biochemistry parameters. These results suggest that the AC extract may improve learning and memory in SAMP8 mice without causing any noticeable side effects on the body.