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Timosaponin B-II ameliorates scopolamine-induced cognition deficits by attenuating acetylcholinesterase activity and brain oxidative damage in mice

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Abstract

Timosaponin B-II (TB-II) is a main active saponin isolated from the rhizome of Anemarrhena asphodeloides Bge., which is widely used in traditional Chinese medicine. In this study, the effect of TB-II on learning and memory was investigated in a scopolamine-induced mouse model of Alzheimer’s disease. The results of behavioral tests indicated that TB-II significantly increased the spontaneous alternation in the Y-maze test, and reversed the shortening of step-through latency induced by scopolamine in the passive avoidance test, showing protective effects on short-term and working memory. In the Morris water maze test, TB-II reduced the escape latency time in the training trial, and increased the swimming time in the target quadrant in the probe trial. Biochemical data demonstrated that TB-II significantly inhibited acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity in the cerebral cortex and hippocampus of mice. Moreover, TB-II markably attenuated the reduction in glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities, and decreased malondialdehyde (MDA) levels, which are key biomarkers of brain oxidative stress. These results indicated that TB-II offers protection against scopolamine-induced deficits in learning and memory, possibly by inhibiting AChE and preventing oxidative stress damage. The findings suggested that TB-II has a potential therapeutic effect on cognitive and behavioral impairment.

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Acknowledgments

This research was supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 81573580 and No. 81403065) and Education Department of Liaoning Province (No. L2015533).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Functional Food and Wine, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Wenhua Road 103, Shenyang, 110016, People’s Republic of China

    Xu Zhao & Ying Jia

  2. School of Traditional Chinese Materia Medica, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Wenhua Road 103, Shenyang, 110016, China

    Chunmei Liu, Yu Qi & Jie Luo

  3. School of Basic Medical Sciences, Shenyang Medical College, Huanghe North Street 146, Shenyang, 110034, China

    Lina Fang

  4. School of Pharmacy, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Wenhua Road 103, Shenyang, 110016, China

    Kaishun Bi

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  1. Xu Zhao
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  2. Chunmei Liu
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Correspondence to Ying Jia.

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Zhao, X., Liu, C., Qi, Y. et al. Timosaponin B-II ameliorates scopolamine-induced cognition deficits by attenuating acetylcholinesterase activity and brain oxidative damage in mice. Metab Brain Dis 31, 1455–1461 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11011-016-9877-z

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