Ethanolic extract of Sophora japonica flower buds alleviates cognitive deficits induced by scopolamine in mice

Abstract

Sophora japonica has been shown many beneficial pharmacological activities, including the neuroprotective effects. Flavonoids, isoflavonoids, triterpenes, alkaloids are bioactive compounds identified presence in Sophora japonica. The present study aimed to evaluate the neuroprotective effects of ethanolic extract of Sophora japonica flower buds on scopolamine (SCP)-induced cognitive deficits in mice. The modulatory effect of Sophora japonica on memory impairment was investigated using Y-maze and the Morris water maze tasks. Acetylcholine (ACh) levels and acetylcholinesterase enzyme (AChE) activity were measured in brain tissue to investigate the cholinergic effect of Sophora japonica. Pro-inflammatory tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), interleukin 1 beta (IL-1β), and anti-inflammatory interleukin 10 (IL-10) were also evaluated in mice brain tissue to investigate the anti-inflammatory effect of Sophora japonica. Scopolamine induced the cognitive deficits in Y-maze and Morris water maze test along with reducing ACh level and increasing AChE activity and inflammation in brain tissue. Treatment with ethanolic extract of Sophora japonica flower buds reduced the SCP-induced memory impairment in both behavioral tests along with reducing inflammation and AChE activity, and increasing ACh level in brain tissue. Our data demonstrated that ethanolic extract of Sophora japonica flower buds enhanced cognitive deficits in mice induced by scopolamine, and it is a promising source for the treatment of Alzheimer.