The effects of puerarin on learning memory ability and level of hippocampal SOD and MDA in mice model of Alzheimer＇ s disease induced by AlCl3

Abstract

Objective To study the effect of puerarin（Pur） on memory ability of AD mice induced by aluminum poisoned and the involved mechanism. Methods AlCl3 was injected several times to establish Alzheimer＇s disease model mice. Spatial memory ability were tested by Morris water maze, Activity of SOD and content of MDA in the hippocampus were measured by Xanthine oxidase method and Thiobarbituric acid method respectively. Resuits As compared with the normal control groups, the activity of hippocampal SOD was declined [（32. 11 ± 18.53 ）U/mg prot, P〈 0.01] , but the content of MDA was increased the results associated with lower Performance in Water Labyrinth. [ （3.94 ± 0.61 ） nmol/mg prot, P 〈 0.01 ] in model groups. Compared with the model groups, the groups treated with the pur could markedly improve learning memory ability. The activity of SOD was rised [ （58.63 ± 17.92） U/mg prot, （ 61.29 ± 19.47 ） U/rag prot, P 〈 0.01 ], the level of MDA was decreased [ （ 2.93 ± 0.31 ） nmol/mg prot, （ 2.89 ± 0.45 ） nmol/mg prot, P 〈 0.01 ] in high and Medium dose of Pur. The activity of SOD was also rised [ （49.74 ± 16.37）U/rag prot, P〈0.05 ] in low dose groups. The Performance of high dose was better than the low dose in water maze. Conclusions The Pur can significantly improve leaming and memory ability in aluminum lesioned mice. and the mechanism involved might closely correlate with its roles of antioxidation. Key words: Puerarin; Aluminum ; Alzheimer, s disease ; Memory