Effects of Huperzia saururus alkaloid extract on behavioral parameters of adult mice and on acetylcholinesterase activity of their brain regions

BAKOYIANNIS, I.; KOKKOSIS, A.G.; VALLEJO, M.G.; ORTEGA, M.G.; LAMARI, F.; AGNESE, A.M.; MARGARITY, M.

Milán

Congreso; 9th FENS Forum of Neuroscience; 2014

FENS

Huperzia saururus (Lam.) Trevis. (Lycopodiaceae) known as cola de quirquincho is an Argentinean native species used in folk medicine to improve memory. Chemical studies have shown that the main constituents of the species are Lycopodium alkaloids. Some of them are acetylcholinesterase (AChE) in‐vitro inhibitors and a few have an effect on learning and memory. On the basis of this information, a purified alkaloid extract was obtained by alkaline extraction of the aerial parts. The aim of the present study was to investigate whether the intraperitoneal administration of H. saururus alkaloid extract (AE) [0.75 mg/kg] affected brain acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity of specific brain regions (cerebral cortex, cerebellum, midbrain, striatum, hippocampus) and behavioral indices (memory/learning, anxiety/fear) in male adult mice. Memory/learning was evaluated using the Passive-avoidance test, anxiety/fear using the Thigmotaxis test. AChE activity was determined in both salt-soluble (SS-AChE) and detergent-soluble (DS-AChE) fractions of all brain regions tested, by Ellman?s colorimetric method. The AE administration increased significantly the Step‐through latency (141.26%) in the Passive-avoidance test, and decreased significantly (12.16%) the thigmotaxis time (time spent close to the walls of an open field) in the Thigmotaxis test. Moreover, a significant decrease in both SS- and DS-AChE activity was observed in all the brain. In conclusion, the present results corroborate with previous observations (inhibitory effects on the AChE activity in blood) and show that Huperzia saururus alkaloid extract has inhibitory effects on the AChE activity of specific brain regions and engendered memory-improving and anxiolytic behavior in male adult mice.