Abstract

Background Aerial parts of Peganum harmala Linn is used as a traditional medical herb for treatment of amnesia in Uighur medicine in China. Deoxyvasicine (DVAS) is one of the chief active ingredients in P. harmala , it possesses strong acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) inhibitory activities in vitro , but the therapeutic effect and mechanisms on amnesia in vivo are unclear. Purpose The objective of this study was to investigate the improvement effect of DVAS from P. harmala in learning and memory deficits of scopolamine-induced mice and elucidate the underlying mechanisms involved. Methods Mice were pretreated with DVAS (5, 15 and 45 mg/kg) and huperzine-A (0.2 mg/kg) by gavage for 7 days, and subsequently were daily intraperitoneally injected with scopolamine (1 mg/kg) to induce learning and memory deficits and behavioral performance was assessed by Morris water maze . To further evaluate the potential mechanisms of DVAS in improving learning and memory capabilities, pathological change, levels of various biochemical markers and protein expressions related to cholinergic system, oxidative stress , and neuroinflammation were examined. Results The results showed that DVAS could alleviate learning and memory deficits in scopolamine-treated mice. DVAS could regulate cholinergic function by inhibiting AChE and activating choline acetyltransferase (ChAT) activities and protein expressions. DVAS could induce brain-derived neurotrophic factor and protect hippocampal pyramidal cells against neuronal damage. DVAS also enhanced antioxidant defense via increasing the antioxidant enzyme level and activity of glutathione peroxidase , and anti-inflammatory function through suppressing tumor necrosis factor-α. Additionally, DVAS could regulate the neurotransmitters by elevating acetylcholine , 5-hydroxytryptamine, γ-am